 He was the son of Peter Coll—a West Coast rugby league representative who played in the team that defeated the touring Great Britain side in 1946—and the uncle of squash player Paul Coll.A West Coast representative, Coll played in 65 games (including 30 tests) for the New Zealand national rugby league team including three world cups.Coll trialled for the 1971 Kiwis unsuccessfully, however he was selected the following year.