Presenting...

Sean Fitzpatrick

World Cup Winning Captain of New Zealand Rugby | Chairman Laureus Sport

“It seems almost every best-selling title featuring high-performance teams has one name in common: Sean Fitzpatrick. His ability to sharpen focus, cut through noise, and centre everything on the team is world-renowned. Sean brings people back to what really matters - the values, the standard, the process. He gives leaders a clear sense of what great leadership feels like, and a renewed commitment to holding the line when it counts.”

-Tracey Duke -

Sean Fitzpatrick, World Cup winning captain of New Zealand rugby and Chairman of Laureus Sport, keynote speaker available through Holo Global.

Profile

Sean Fitzpatrick is one of the most respected captains in international sport. As the leader of the All Blacks during a defining era, he helped shape one of the most successful team cultures in history — one that still sets the benchmark today.

Over a 12-year international career, Sean earned 121 caps for New Zealand, including 92 Tests and a world-record 63 consecutive appearances. He captained the side 51 times, lifting the World Cup in 1987 and leading the team to a historic Test series win over South Africa in 1996 — the first time the All Blacks had ever achieved that on South African soil.

Sean’s story goes deeper than records. It explores what it takes to lead when everything is on the line — and how to build trust, discipline, and accountability that lasts. His leadership style was built on clarity, consistency, and a deep respect for the team. No drama. No ego. Just presence, precision, and purpose.

Since retiring from rugby, Sean has applied those same principles to leadership development at the highest level. As Chairman of the Laureus World Sports Academy, and a trusted advisor to companies including Microsoft, Nestlé, and Heinz, he now works with leaders across sport, business, and government — helping them build high-performing cultures and lead under pressure.

Highlights

Chairman of the Laureus World Sports Academy

Captain of the All Blacks (1992–1997), leading 51 Test matches.

Played 63 consecutive Tests for New Zealand — a world record at the time.

Rugby World Cup winner (1987)

Led the All Blacks to their first-ever series win in South Africa (1996)

Awarded the New Zealand Order of Merit (1997)

Consultant to global organisations on leadership and performance

Key Themes

High-Performance Leadership: What elite leadership looks like under pressure, and how to build a culture that doesn’t fade when the stakes rise.

Sustained Excellence: The mindset, discipline, and structure required to reach, and stay at, the top.

Trust, Culture, and Accountability: How to create environments where high standards are lived consistently.

Sport-to-Business Translation: Real lessons from elite rugby, applied directly to executive teams and global organisations.