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Jerry Collins played 48 Tests for the All Blacks. AP Photo/Matt Dunham
in custody

Jerry Collins gets Japanese jail visit after knife 'self-defence' claim

The former All Black flanker was arrested for carrying the blade in a department store.

A REPRESENTATIVE FROM the New Zealand Embassy in Japan has visited former All Black forward Jerry Collins in jail.

The 32-year-old back-row was arrested in a Hamamatsu department store at the weekend for carrying a knife.

Following the arrest, Japanese police told New Zealand’s 3 News, “He was arrested because he didn’t have any reason to possess the 17cm cooking knife he was carrying.

“The police and staff were alerted to him because he was holding the knife on the underground level of the department store, which is normally where food is sold.”

The news station reported that they were in touch with a colleague of the rugby player, who plays professionally for Yamaha in Japan. The colleague said Collins was carrying the knife for self-defence.

No contact

Collins’ agent, Tim Castle, told RadioLIVE in New Zealand that he had not been in touch, personally, with Collins.

He commented, “I’m sure the authorities will recognise that this is a young man who has a great reputation internationally and is somebody who has been in their midst for a number of years.”

The Samoan-born forward appeared 48 times for the All Blacks. He was part of the New Zealand team that defeated the British & Irish Lions 3-0 in the 2005 Test series.

Collins had stints at Ospreys and Toulon before journeying to Japan.

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