As his body arrived back in New Zealand thousands of mourners converged on Porirua at the grounds of Jerry Collins' beloved former club, Norths, to pay tribute to the rugby great.

The memorial on Sunday at the local rugby club comes after a march through the city, which started at Waitangirua Mall and passed Collins' former primary school, Corinna School, where pupils performed a haka to the passing parade.

Porirua City Councillor Litea Ah Hoi welcomed mourners at the gates of Porirua Park and was among those who led tributes to Collins.



"Today we stand united in our grief and in our pain. Today we mourn a legend and a son of Porirua that has given us so much," Ah Hoi said.

1 of 4 Maarten Holl Sio Posiano, left, and Tasi Siaunuua. 2 of 4 Maarten Holl The Porirua Walk for Jerry: Thousands turn out for Porirua memorial walk. 3 of 4 Maarten Holl Bryan Liu Kuey (in the white top) leads to celebrations during the march. 4 of 4 MAARTEN HOLL/FAIRFAX NZ Porirua has become a sea of blue as people turn out in Norths rugby club colours for the memorial walk for Jerry Collins.

"The embroidery that he left on the fabric of this city will never be forgotten. This is a tribute to who he was and who he will always be.

"We love you Jerry and we always will," she said.

Tali Lilo, Collins' first Norths coach and former captain of the team, has called for the number 6 jersey to be retired - perhaps forever - from premier rugby as a way to honour Collins.

MAARTEN HOLL/FAIRFAX NZ Porirua has become a sea of blue as people turn out in Norths rugby club colours for the memorial walk for Jerry Collins.

"For the younger generations coming in to the game we can tell them the story [of Jerry], and there will be kids not yet born in Porirua who will be inspired by Jerry's story."

Tainafi Patu, who played with Collins for Norths and for Manu Samoa, lead a Samoan haka then a New Zealand haka.

"He's our favourite son. He was a mentor for the young ones," Patu said.

The memorial was a chance for the community to jointly grieve the former All Black's tragic death in the city of his beloved Norths rugby club, organisers said.



Collins' friend and fellow Wellington Lions player Ali Koko decided to organise the walk for Collins after speaking with their friend Anthony Hill, who is also president of the French rugby club Narbonne, which Collins played for. The Narbonne club held a silent march on Sunday in memory of Collins and his partner, Alana Madill.



Koko said the walk was also a way of getting grieving people out from behind closed doors.

"He had a big heart, was always giving and was tough, tough, tough. He was just a young man with an old soul. We wanted to get people together to remember him the way he was - vibrant and out there. One city, one town - Porirua."



The couple were killed when their car was struck by a bus on a motorway in southern France on Friday as Madill drove home from a rugby gala for fellow Samoan player Henry Tuilagi. Their 10-week-old baby, Ayla, remained in a Montpellier hospital but was starting to show signs of recovery.

Before Collins departed France, Madill's body was moved into the same room as his in Montpeiller.

Collins' cousin and former All Blacks captain Tana Umaga, who had been in Italy, was one of a small group of close friends escorting Collins home, along with fellow France-based former All Black Chris Masoe and his wife Gemma, and Stevenson Malotu'upule.

On Wednesday, a public funeral will be held at the Te Rauparaha Arena in Porirua, starting at 10am.

Norths are also planning a private funeral for him at Porirua Park Number 1 for Collins' family and his wider rugby family.