[3] Collins and his partner, Alana Madill, were killed in a car accident in southern France in June 2015.

Collins was born in the Samoan capital of Apia, but grew up in Porirua on New Zealand's North Island.

[4] In October 2007, following New Zealand's exit from the 2007 Rugby World Cup, Collins was vacationing in Devon when he was spotted by Barnstaple head coach Kevin Squire who invited him to watch the team play a match at the weekend.

Much to the club's surprise Collins turned up so they asked if he minded running a coaching session with the junior section.

After leaving the Hurricanes, Collins played for Toulon during the 2008–09 season, joining Sonny Bill Williams in the club's aggressive recruitment drive.

In January 2015, Collins signed a contract as a Medical Joker to play in the French ProD2 with Racing Club Narbonne.

In early July, it was announced Ayla would move to Canada with the Madill family, and continue receiving treatment at a Canadian hospital.