Biggest Headlines in World Rugby for Weekend of June 5-7

The rugby community came together in mourning during the most recent weekend of action after news emerged that Jerry Collins and his partner, Alana Madill, died in a car crash in the French department of Herault on Friday.

The former New Zealand flanker was remembered as a great member of not just the All Black fraternity but as a terrific servant of rugby, and he is a major loss to the sport.

Just as that devastating news impacted the rugby world, Super Rugby continued, and it's fitting Collins' former club, the Hurricanes, advanced their position as one of this season's standout teams by hammering the Highlanders.

In Europe, France's Top 14 playoff final took shape as Stade Francais and Clermont booked their places in this season's title fixture, while the Under-20 World Championship took its share of the spotlight.

Read on for discussions about those headlines and more.

Hulking Hurricanes

A 56-20 rout of the Highlanders saw the Hurricanes cement their place at the head of the New Zealand conference on Friday and book a Super Rugby home semi-final as a result.

Beauden Barrett, Nehe Milner-Skudder, James Marshall and TJ Perenara were among those in top form as the Super Rugby leaders continued their march toward a potential maiden Super Rugby crown.

The franchise has slowly been building its charge as a New Zealand powerhouse, and it may be that the Hurricanes' time as their nation's finest is coming.

With one round of the normal campaign remaining, the Canes are assured of top spot, but the real prize is far from won.

World Rugby Mourns Jerry Collins' Death

Friday's terrible news rocked rugby to its core as Jerry Collins, regarded as not only a terrific player in his prime but a standout personality, died following a car crash along with partner, Alana Madill.

French newspaper Le Figaro (h/t ESPN Scrum) reported that Collins and Madill died instantly after their car collided with a bus in southern France and that their three-month-old daughter, Alya, is in a critical condition.

Tributes for the former All Black, capped on 48 occasions by his country, flooded in as Bryan Habana, Sam Warburton and former international team-mate Piri Weepu posted memorial messages on Twitter.

Another former team-mate, Justin Marshall, was quoted by Sky Sport (via ESPN Scrum) as giving his account of Collins' character, saying: "I was there when Jerry made his All Black debut and it's a travesty for the rugby world. He's one of us; he's an All Black and he will be missed, terribly missed…it's a sad loss."

Jack De Menezes of the Independent says the attached video of Collins performing the famous New Zealand haka was recorded "hours" before his passing. De Menezes adds that Collins' manager, Tim Castle, says daughter Alya's condition "has improved a little."

We can only hope Alya pulls through this tragedy with her health intact after the loss of her parents.

Fearless Stade Francais

The underdogs had it all against them heading into a Top 14 semi-final clash with reigning champions Toulon, but Stade Francais emerged as deserved victors on Friday evening.

Morne Steyn kicked 18 points as the Parisian outfit claimed a convincing 33-16 win over the European title holders, while Clermont edged past Toulouse with a tense 18-14 win.

Despite being the lowest finishers of any French team to make the semi-finals, the Sergio Parisse-led Stade may yet defy the odds to clinch what would be their first league crown since 2007.

Crusaders' Playoff Campaign Halted

Before this year, the Crusaders had managed to make the playoffs in every Super Rugby season since 2001. That 13-year streak came to an end on Saturday, as the Christchurch giants saw their post-season hopes squashed.

Despite claiming a 34-11 bonus-point win over the Blues, Todd Blackadder's side sit in eighth spot with just one round of the normal campaign remaining and six points separating them and the Brumbies in sixth.

The order could change in Round 18, but it's been confirmed the Hurricanes, Waratahs, Stormers, Chiefs, Highlanders and Brumbies will be the six teams taking part in this year's finals.

The Crusaders remain Super Rugby's most successful club, having won seven championships and recorded four runners-up finishes, but they won't have the chance to enhance that record in 2015.

England's Under-20s

Producing top-tier talent on a consistent basis is one of the hardest tasks for an international institution, but England may have another batch of stars on their hands if their under-20 side's 30-16 win over their Welsh counterparts is anything to go by.

The defending U20 world champions impressed once again, with the likes of Howard Packman, Max Clarke and Rory Jennings all standing out.

Wales were soundly outdone at Calvisano's Stadio San Michele, while southern-hemisphere titans New Zealand, South Africa and Australia also maintained their perfect starts to the competition, each sitting on 10 points apiece.