The body of former All Black Jerry Collins, who was killed in car crash with his partner Alana Madill in France, will arrive back in New Zealand at the weekend.
The couple's baby daughter Ayla remains in a critical condition at a hospital in Montpellier after the car they were in was hit by a bus on a motorway near Beziers, in southern France, on June 5.
Collins had signed with the Narbonne club in January.
Thousands of people are expected to attend the funeral at Te Rauparaha arena in Porirua on Wednesday where members of the public have placed tributes, flowers and messages of condolences.
At a news conference in Wellington today, Collins' agent Tim Castle thanked the public and rugby community for their support in the week since the crash.
He said the 34-year-old's family were experiencing, as could be expected, terrible anguish and grief.
"This is their boy. Jerry is on his way, which is of great relief and comfort."
Mr Castle thanked local authorities for keeping a condolence book open at the arena, saying Collins was a "favourite son of this city."
Private family ceremonies would be held until Wednesday.
Mr Castle could not yet say who would speak at the funeral, but family, members of the local community and rugby community were expected to have a big presence and contribution.
In a touching gesture, the families arranged for Alana to be moved into the same hospital room her father was in, he said.
"So before Jerry left on his journey here, the two of them were together there."
Mr Castle said he spoke to Ms Madill's family last night, and Alana's father and her older sister Nora will leave France in time to be here for Collins' funeral.
Ms Madill's mother Ruth from Canada and another sister would stay with Ayla.
The Collins and Madill families were deeply grateful to the French rugby community, he said.
Haka for Jerry
French-based former All Blacks Neemia Tialata, Ali Williams, Chris Masoe, Byron Kelleher and Carl Hayman have visited the site of the crash and paid their respects by performing a roadside haka.
Tialata posted a video of the haka on Twitter.Jerry Collins' career
Collins was born in Apia, Samoa. He played 48 tests for the All Blacks and had three tests as captain.
He made his All Blacks debut in 2001, the same year he first played for the Wellington Hurricanes. Before that he had been playing for Wellington in the NPC since 1999.
Collins retired from international rugby in 2008, and went on to play in Europe and Japan.
