Sean’s visit to the Kilmacud Crokes GAA Club was organised to provide young and aspiring Gaelic Sports players with access to a globally recognised sports legend, to inspire them in their chosen sports and continue to enjoy sport as a vehicle for personal growth and development. Speaking of growth and development, Sean was put through his paces by the young members of the club, learning the basics of hurling and football – even though Sean is a World Cup winning captain of the All Blacks, the kids were able to teach him a thing or two about their sports.

The Haka

In return, Sean taught the kids how to complete the world famous ‘Haka’, which he personally performed 92 times as an All Black. The kids were quick learners and a couple of them got into the spirit of the Haka by getting their faces painted with Maori style tattoos.

The Senior Teams

Later that day, Sean met with the Dublin senior hurling and football teams at the Westbury hotel, to regale them with stories of his successes and failures on the pitch as an international rugby player. The event was organised by Vodafone to allow Dublin’s senior players to hear how a global sports veteran, like Sean Fitzpatrick, managed his career on and off the pitch. Sean was chosen to meet the teams as his rugby playing days coincided with the amateur era in rugby. Like the Dublin players he was meeting, Sean played at the top of his sport as an amateur where the rewards were not financial, but at a personal level of gratification and pure love of the sport.

Born: June 4, 1963

Place of Birth: Auckland, New Zealand

Accolades: 1987 World Cup winner, 92 Test Matches, Captain of All Blacks 1992-97

 

New Zealand’s Sean Fitzpatrick is one of the giants of international rugby holding the world record for playing in 63 consecutive Test matches and being the world’s most capped hooker. His extraordinary international career began with his debut for the All Blacks in 1986 against France. He was appointed captain of the All Blacks in 1992 and played in 121 international matches, including 92 Test matches, a New Zealand record. Fitzpatrick also holds the record for most Test matches as an All Black captain (51) and has played in more Test match victories (74) than any other player.

He led New Zealand to a series win over the touring British Lions in 1993 and also led the All Blacks to a clean sweep in the first Tri-Nations tournament in 1996. He became the first New Zealander to captain a Test series win in South Africa.

One of the most durable Rugby Union players of all time, Sean Fitzpatrick was also one of the very best. The abrasive hooker always led by example and commanded utmost respect on the field of play. He was well built for a hooker, standing 1.82 metres tall and weighing 233 pounds, but he was remarkably mobile and extremely skilful in both tight and loose play. Possessing excellent handling skills, he made a habit of popping up in the right place at the right time. He ended his career with an overall tally of 55 points in Test matches, including 12 tries and he was phenomenally accurate with his lineout throws.

Sean's father, Brian (BBJ) Fitzpatrick was an All Black 1951 – 1954, so Sean was brought up in the All Black tradition. After making his international debut for New Zealand on June 28, 1986, he took part in the inaugural World Cup in 1987 when he enjoyed one of his best-ever rugby moments as the All Blacks went on to win the tournament final in Auckland against France. Thereafter, he missed only two Test matches over the next decade. He took over the All Black captaincy in 1992 and went on to become the second most-capped New Zealand player of all time.

As the game of Rugby Union developed in the early 1990s, with its increasing emphasis on fitness and the eventual advent of professionalism, Fitzpatrick was very much in the forefront. Widely regarded as one of the best players in his position of all time, his legendary strength and mobility saw him shape the prototype of the modern rugby union hooker.

Probably the crowning moment of Fitzpatrick’s illustrious career came in 1996 when he inspirationally led New Zealand to a memorable test series triumph over South Africa - the first time that the All Blacks had ever won a series on South African soil. He played his 92nd and last international on November 29, 1997.

He was awarded the New Zealand Order of Merit by the Governor General in 1997. At the end of 1999, Fitzpatrick was named as hooker in Rugby World magazine’s Team of the Century. In March 1999 Sean was appointed as ‘Rugby Consultant’ to the NZRFU responsible for player development and liaison.

The vision of the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation as defined by patron Nelson Mandela is that “Sport has the power to change the world”. The mission of the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation is to utilise the power of sport to address social challenges through a worldwide programme of sports related community development initiatives, using sport as a tool for social change.

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