He grew up in a rugby family with father Brian Fitzpatrick having had a first-class rugby career which covered 1949-56 and touring with the All Blacks to Australia, British Isles, France, Canada and California.
Sean made his International rugby debut in France in 1986 and went on to captain the All Blacks from 1992 to 1997, playing 128 matches for them, including 92 tests. He actually played a world record 63 consecutive test matches until he was rested against Japan.
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.
Together with front row partners Craig Dowd and Olo Brown (who played 34 test matches together) they were only three test matches short of the world record for the most tests played together as a front row. The previous NZ record for a front row partnership amazingly also featured Sean, when he linked up with Richard Loe and Steve McDowell.
At the end of a stellar career Sean had played in 346 first class matches. Of these, 128 (including 92 tests) were for the All Blacks, 127 for Auckland and 25 in the Super 12 for the Blues when they won the first two titles in each of the 1996-97 seasons.
After stepping down as a player Sean stayed active in the game adding to his now iconic status. He worked as an ambassador for rugby and was appointed manager for the NZ Colts team during the 1999 season and manager for the Super 12 Blues team for the 2002 season.
He’s been actively involved with the Variety Club New Zealand, hosting a golf day "Fitzy's Ford Classic" every year to raise funds for the charity; an endorsement with Qantas airways; Channel Development Manager with Coca-Cola and awarded the NZ Order of Merit by the Governor General in 1997.
In 2004 Sean became a television commentator in Britain and regularly comments on rugby issues.
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