New Zealand World Cup winning squad visits graveside of late rugby star

New Zealand Rugby World Cup winning stars visited the graveside of former All Blacks great Jerry Collins.

Collins and his wife died in a fatal car crash in the early hours of Friday, June 5 while their daughter Ayla survived after undergoing a life-saving operations and now lives Canada with her mother's family.

Collins made his debut for the All Blacks in 2007 and was named captain of the side in 2007.

He amassed 48 caps and five tries for the All Blacks.

To honour the late star, New Zealand's stars took time out from their homecoming tour following their World Cup triumph to visit his grave side.

New Zealand secured back-to-back World Cups with a stunning 34-17 victory against Australia at Twickenham last Saturday and Steve Hansen's squad touched down in Auckland on Wednesday.

Dan Carter, Sonny Bill Williams, Ma'a Nonu, Jerome Kaino and Liam Messam took the Webb Ellis Cup to the grave-side the day after what would have been his 35th birthday.

“Good to share this one with the brother. Love you JC,” Carter wrote on Instagram alongside a photograph of the five players beside Collins’ grave in Wellington.

“Happy belated bday my uso (Samoan for brother). We love u JC. Never forgotten our fallen uso!” Nonu also wrote.