Former All Black fined, freed

Sydney - Former All Black Jerry Collins has been released from jail in Japan.

According to stuff.co.nz website, Collins, 32, had been in custody since his arrested for carrying two knives in an upmarket department store in the city of Hamamatsu on March 17.

His lawyer, Tim Castle, said Collins had agreed to pay a fine of Y150 000 (NZ$ 1 900) in return for release.

‘‘The authorities  in Japan have accepted that this was a minor indiscretion, and that there were extenuating circumstances for the possession, and that there was neither sinister nor threatening purpose,’’ said Castle, who arrived in the country on Monday hoping to negotiate the rugby player’s release.

Collins was ‘‘very pleased the ordeal is over and he can put it all behind him,’’ he said.

Collins, who had been playing rugby for the Yamaha Jubilo club in Iwata, 40 minutes from Hamamatsu, apparently entered the store and placed two 17cm knives on top of a fish counter, before security staff called the police.

It is illegal to carry weapons with blades longer than 15cm without police permission in Japan.

Collins this week told TV3’s Campbell Live programme he feared for his life after a ‘‘misunderstanding’’ with a gang and the knives were for self-defence.