Tributes paid to former Ospreys player killed in car crash

Former Ospreys player and All Blacks captain Jerry Collins has been killed in a car crash in France.

The New Zealand ministry of foreign affairs confirmed that Collins and his partner Alana Madill died in an accident in the early hours of this morning on the A9 motorway in Herault, southern France.

Collins's three-month old daughter has been airlifted to hospital in a critical condition, it's also been reported by a French newspaper.

Collins was regarded by many as one of the toughest back row forwards ever to play for New Zealand, with 48 caps, 3 as captain.

He also played 56 times for the Ospreys between 2009 and 2011, scoring 6 tries and winning the Pro12 in 2010.

Many have been paying tribute to him on Twitter.