When Sean Fitzpatrick retired from professional rugby in 1997 following an illustrious career of 92 Test matches with the All Blacks, he had well and truly cemented his place as one of NZ rugby’s most inspirational captains.

But it has been his legacy off the field that has cemented his place in the international sporting hall of fame. For the last two decades, Sean has worked with the Laureus organisation, as a founding member and now its chairman, to promote excellence in sport around the world.

From grassroots programs to prestigious awards ceremonies, Laureus champions the transformative influence of sport. It’s a philosophy exemplified by Laureus founding patron Nelson Mandela who said, “Sport has the power to change the world.”

Sean returns to Mandela’s words often, both in looking back on his own life and achievements and in striving to empower the next generation through Laureus’ Sport for Good programs.

One such program that’s close to home for Sean is the Springboard project in the North Auckland area, one of more than 200 projects that Laureus supports around the world. Springboard is a boxing training program that was established for young people who are struggling, isolated and angry to help them build self-respect, discipline and routine.

In the video below, we spent a day with Sean in Auckland behind the wheel of the Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 4MATIC+ to see what drives this legendary figure. From paddleboarding at sunrise and perfecting his golf swing to joining in on a Springboard training session, Sean reflects on the moment that made him step up and become an All Black, and the legacy he’s creating with Laureus. Inspirational and humble, it’s a fascinating insight into the motivations behind a sporting legend.