Sean Brian Thomas Fitzpatrick legendary rugby player of the world and one of the best first-liners officially started working in Georgian rugby. He is one of the first mega-stars who responded the initiative of Georgian Rugby Union to create “International Advising Council of Georgian Rugby Union” which will be staffed with famous rugby specialists.
As for interesting and important details of legendary player’s biography, he was born on June 4, 1963. He was playing in hooker’s position in “All Blacks” for 12 years (1986-1997). Fitzpatrick made his international debut as one of the "Baby Blacks" in the 1986 Test series in France. He set record and played 63 tests one after another. In 1992-1997 he was captain of National Team of New Zealand. He his world cup’s owner and several prize winner.
Fitzpatrick was awarded the New Zealand Order of Merit by the then Governor General of New Zealand Sir Michael Hardie Boys in 1997. In 1999 he was named “hooker” of century symbolic team. He played 121 international matches in the staff of “All Blacks”. In 51 test matches he was captain of National Team, he won 74 matches. Now, he lives in England and he is an analyst for the BBC and Sky Sports in the United Kingdom. He is nice person to contact, likes to joke and big professional.
His visit in Tbilisi is one of the steps for Georgian Rugby’s integration to Elite Rugby World. Legendary member of “All Blacks” and one of the respectful representative of World Rugby meeting with Lado Vardzelashvili Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs of Georgia, with leadership of Georgian Rugby Union, visited “Shevardeni” rugby base. He requires all the details of developing Georgian Rugby.
Within visit he will discuss Georgian Rugby players’ future career in the leading leagues of the world.
Giorgi Nijaradze: “Today we have very good day. Sean Brian Thomas Fitzpatrick’s visit is great honor for us, because he created whole rugby epoch. Fitzpatrick created new style “hooker”. We connected him through former rugby player Levan Vasadze and asked to help us for developing Georgian Rugby. Now, there are two people in “International Advising Council of Georgian Rugby Union”- Richard Dixon and Fitzpatrick. They will be our ambassadors in the world”.
Sean Brian Thomas Fitzpatrick: “It is great honor to visit Georgian Rugby Family. Your country takes after New Zealand very much, but there are more sheep in my homeland. I will do my best to make Georgian rugby popular all over the world. Staying in New Zealand or in England would be easier but visit Georgia for rugby popularization is very important. I remember your national team’s participation at World Cup in 2007 very much and I am glad that you take part at World Cup the third times. Rugby is the best sport all over the world and my goal with Rich is that country like Georgia is to show better and better rugby. I will be next to you until Georgian National Team will not be strong rival of “All Blacks”. Georgians, Zealanders and Scotsmen are modest people and we play rugby with whole our heart and soul. For developing Georgian rugby is necessary to more and more with young generation. We will discus if it is possible to send them for intership to New Zealand or to other countries”.
Richard Dixon:“I remember Sean’s devotion very much. His visit means that the level of Georgian Rugby grows. It is pleasant that person like he is, is ready to help Georgian Rugby and make its name popular all over the world”.
Besides that Fitzpatrick talked about national team of New Zealand, which is always the best national team but in spite of this won World Cup only once. According to him it is just unlucky. He hopes that upcoming tournament will be different, because “All Blacks” gets ready for this tournament in a very different way. As he mentioned The Six Nations Championship and Three Nations are very closed tournaments and for country like Georgia is, is necessary to prove powerfulness.
At the end of press-conference, Giorgi Nijaradze presented him tee-shirt of Georgian National Team.
Zura Ksovreli
