Veteran All Black Sam Whitelock admits his heart is heavy, after the passing of former Crusaders teammate Sean Wainui.
Waunui, 25 died on Monday morning, after the car he was driving crashed into a tree near Tauranga.
News of his death rocked the rugby community, including the All Blacks, who have assembled in Maryland for Sunday’s test against USA Eagles.
Whitelock says the players are getting around each other to support those most affected by Wainui's sudden passing, sharing memories about the popular utility back.
Wainui played nine games for the Crusaders as a teenager from 2016-17, with Whitelock revealing the pair used to sit next to each other on flights.
"Everyone in their own way is connecting with their own stories about Sean," he says.
"For myself, as Whitelock and Wainui, we used to sit next to each other on the plane at the Crusaders. I always used to enjoy our little catch-ups about where we were in life. I think Sean was maybe 19 at the time, so yeah, that is my story.
"Everyone is connecting with their own memories with a very heavy heart."
Whitelock says Wainui's Chiefs teammates are struggling, being so far away from his friends and family, whom they want to support.
"There are people walking around with a pretty heavy heart at the moment, which is totally understandable, and a lot of love and compassion goes out to Sean's family - obviously Paige and his kids, and the extended family.
"It's hard, but the thing we have here is a big squad, so we are getting around the people that need the support. It hurts."
Whitelock, 33, missed the Australian-based Rugby Championship tests for the birth of his third child and admits sitting at home watching his teammates play was an unfamiliar experience.
The giant lock is raring to go and hopes he’s picked for Sunday's test.
"I'm always up for it.
"I can't wait to get out there, as it's been a little bit different for me being at home watching, but Gilly [trainer Nick Gill] wasn't slow in sending through ideas and different things he had me do to keep in shape.
"I'm feeling really fit - I played for Canterbury a couple of weeks ago, and I'm raring to go and get back into it."
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