PARIS (Reuters) - Former New Zealand captain Jerry Collins is joining Toulon on a three-year contract, the French side said on their Web site (www.rctoulon.com) on Tuesday.

Flanker Collins became last month the latest in a series of high-profile players to say he was quitting the All Blacks.

The 27-year-old Collins made his debut for New Zealand in 2001 and played a majority of his 48 tests as blindside flanker, captaining the team three times. He scored five test tries.

Toulon have just won promotion to France's top flight. Their manager is Tana Umaga, like Collins a former All Blacks captain.

(Writing by Patrick Vignal in Vevey, Switzerland)