Shane Williams’ column: Gentle giant Jerry Collins made Ospreys into true Galacticos

Jerry Collins was a typical south-sea islander – a monster on the pitch but a gentle giant off it. I remember clearly the day we were told at the Ospreys that we had signed the All Black back-row legend Jerry Collins.
It was a moment when the Ospreys really did become ‘the Galacticos’ and the effects of that signing are still seen today.
It was the talk of the club and even the most experienced players in the squad, guys who had played at World Cups and for the British and Irish Lions, raised their eyebrows at the news.
We already had a star-studded squad with the likes of Marty Holah, Filo Tiatia and Wales internationals Gavin Henson, James Hook and Mike Phillips.
But Jerry was already a legend after almost half a century of New Zealand caps. And at 28, he was in his prime.
The arrival of Collins clearly strengthened the team. Opponents feared him. I should know, I spent plenty of games against New Zealand wishing I had eyes in the back of my head to see him coming.
He was one of the most physical, tough and intimidating players I ever came across. You always expect that from an All Black but the ferocity with which he tackled was frightening.
You knew if you played a team that included Jerry Collins, they would never take a backward step. He was just as committed in training and never gave less than 100 per cent.
In his first season, he was named Player of the Season and we lifted the Celtic League title in Dublin.
That was an incredible inspiration to the younger players coming through and even the rest of the senior guys in the squad.
Players like Ryan Jones and Jonathan Thomas learned so much from him that I’m certain they became better players from playing alongside him.
Youngsters like Justin Tipuric, Sam Lewis, Tom Smith also got to work with the great guy while Dan Baker, in the youth set-up at the time, will have looked up to him. We all did in a way.
Along with Holah and Tiatia, they brought a mental edge and toughness that we see today in the likes of Alun Wyn Jones and Dan Biggar.
I knew Jerry before he came to the Liberty Stadium from our games for Wales and New Zealand and the 2003 World Cup.
He had a frightening presence on the field. But off the pitch, he was a totally different personality. He was softly-spoken, humble and charming. He had time for everyone.
He was a very sociable person and loved hanging out with the lads.
I managed to catch up with him a few times in Japan though it was hard to keep tabs on Jerry at the best of times.
What is such a shame is the timing of what has happened. On his travels around the world, he had his ups and downs, but he had recently married and had just become a father.
Lee Byrne caught up with him in France just a few weeks ago and Jerry seemed really happy. He had met someone special in Alana and was besotted with their new arrival. It just makes it all the more tragic.
I can only hope his daughter has the same strength of character as her dad and can pull through.
Jerry Collins will be remembered as an iconic player, totally uncompromising and utterly committed to the cause.
On a personal level, once you met him and understood him, Jerry was a friend for life.