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Report: Ospreys interested in Wales and England qualified Super Rugby star

Michael Collins. (Photo by Teaukura Moetaua/Getty Images)

Welsh PRO14 outfit Ospreys are said to be interested in Highlanders utility back Michael Collins.

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Collins, who played and won against the British and Irish Lions in 2017, had a stint with the then Wayne Pivac coached Scarlets in the 2015-16 season, where he made 15 appearances.

Wales Online report that Collins, who switched to from the Blues to Highlanders ahead of the 2020 season and who is eligible for Wales, England and his native New Zealand, is on the Ospreys’ shopping list.

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The Otago man – who can play centre, wing and fullback – was linked with a move back to rival PRO14 side the Scarlets in 2018, which he poured cold water on at the time.

“That’s been blown a wee bit out of proportion,” Collins said in 2018. “Being Wales and England qualified, it’s always been an option to go back there and ply the trade. But I’ve just recommitted here [the Blues] for another year, so that’s the sole focus at the moment.”

“I love the people and culture there, and after that wee stint I probably looked at it more seriously.”

The 6’1, 94kg back captained the Otago Boys 1st XV and was selected for New Zealand Schools in 2011. He first repped Otago at the age of just 19 and went on to make over 50 appearances for the province, before enjoying a star turn with the New Zealand U20s in that 2013 Junior World Championships.

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Collins amassed 29 caps at the Blues. He was recently named in the Highlanders 2021 Aotearoa squad, so any theoretical move want will after this season’s Super Rugby Aotearoa has come to a conclusion.

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M
MA 3 hours ago
How the four-team format will help the Wallabies defeat the Lions

In regards to Mack Hansen, Tuipoloto and others who talent wasnt 'seen'..

If we look at acting, soccer and cricket as examples, Hugh Jackman, the Heminsworths in acting; Keith Urban in Nashville, Mike Hussey and various cricketers who played in UK and made the Australian team; and many soccer players playing overseas.


My opinion is that perhaps the ' 'potential' or latent talent is there, but it's just below the surface.


ANd that decision, as made by Tane Edmed, Noah, Will Skelton to go overseas is the catalyst to activate the latent and bring it to the surface.


Based on my personal experience of leaving Oz and spending 14 months o/s, I was fully away from home and all usual support systems and past memories that reminded me of the past.


Ooverseas, they weren't there. I had t o survive, I could invent myself as who I wanted, and there was no one to blame but me.


It bought me alive, focused my efforts towards what I wanted and people largely accepted me for who I was and how I turned up.


So my suggestion is to make overseas scholarships for younger players and older too so they can benefit from the value offered by overseas coaching acumen, established systems, higher intensity competition which like the pressure that turns coal into diamonds, can produce more Skeltons, Arnold's, Kellaways and the like.


After the Lion's tour say, create 20 x $10,000 scholarships for players to travel and play overseas.


Set up a HECS style arrangement if necessary to recycle these funds ongoingly.


Ooverseas travel, like parenthood or difficult life situations brings out people's physical and emotional strengths in my own experiences, let's use it in rugby.

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