Toulon's former All Blacks flanker Jerry Collins could be set for a lengthy injury spell on the sidelines, capping a tumultuous week for high-profile New Zealanders in the French Top 14 rugby championship.

Collins injured his knee in a tackle 10 minutes into Saturday's 19-9 loss to Brive and was carried from the field.

The exact nature of his injury is not yet known but the British Press Association reported it was feared he could be out of action for several months.

Injury also befell All Blacks star five-eighth Daniel Carter, who limped off with a recurrence of an Achilles tendon injury during Perpignan's 40-14 win over Bourgoin.

Carter was to have tests to determine whether he will be fit for the European Cup pool fixture at home to Ospreys on Saturday.

His former All Blacks and Crusaders halves partner Justin Marshall didn't appear at all over the weekend, serving a one-week suspension imposed on him by his Montpellier club.

Marshall refused to come off the reserve bench late in a game the previous week against competition leaders Toulouse, removing the chance of a showdown with long-time All Blacks rival Byron Kelleher.

However, Collins won the award for most negative headlines in the week.

He was ultimately cleared of assault allegations, with one French newspaper having reported he pushed a woman into a gully.

To cap it off, Collins was relieved of the captaincy of struggling Toulon by coach Tana Umaga, his former Hurricanes and All Blacks teammate.

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