Sean
Fitzpatrick

Sean Fitzpatrick is one of the finest players to ever represent New Zealand and is a former captain of the side. Discover his career with rugby gurus RugbyPass.

Sean Fitzpatrick Bio

Sean Fitzpatrick is widely regarded as one of the greatest players to ever represent New Zealand. A supremely powerful hooker, he was the captain of the New Zealand All Blacks between 1992 and 1997 and he played almost 100 games for his country. Sean Fitzpatrick was inducted into the RugbyPass Hall of Fame in 2021.

Sean Fitzpatrick began his professional career in 1986, when he started playing for Auckland. Between then and 1997, he won the National Provincial Championship a whopping eight times and won the Ranfurly Shield twice. During this time, he made more than 125 appearances for the side.

When Super Rugby began in 1996, Sean Fitzpatrick signed for the Blues. Although he only played in the first two editions of the tournament before his retirement, he won the Super Rugby title on both occasions.

Although Sean Fitzpatrick enjoyed a highly distinguished domestic career, it was on the international stage where he made the greatest impression. In 1986 (the same year he made his debut for Auckland), he made his New Zealand debut as one of the ‘Baby Blacks’ when most of New Zealand’s regular starting 15 were suspended. However, he made an immediate impression and he played a vital role in New Zealand’s victory at the inaugural Rugby World Cup in 1987.

In 1992, Sean Fitzpatrick was named as the captain of New Zealand. Under his stewardship, New Zealand won the Bledisloe Cup four times, the Tri Nations (now The Rugby Championship) twice and completed a series victory over the British and Irish Lions.

Following his retirement from rugby in 1997, Sean Fitzpatrick was rightly appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 1997 New Year Honours. Now, he’s a board member at both Harlequins and Scarlets. He’s also the chairman of the Laureus World Sports Academy.