Sean Fitzpatrick has opened up the possibility of the Scarlets hosting the All Blacks to mark two special anniversaries.
The ex-New Zealand captain spoke to Crys 16, the region’s supporters trust, at a virtual event with the Llanelli-based team’s new executive chairman Simon Muderack.
He said he had talked to the New Zealand Rugby Union about how to develop the relationship between the Scarlets and New Zealand rugby, comments that built on an idea of a tighter link after the region agreed to the early release of Brad Mooar as head coach to pursue a role with the All Blacks.
And Fitzpatrick mentioned the possibility of the west Wales region playing a game against New Zealand.
If such an encounter took place two years from now, it would mark 150 years since Llanelli RFC came into being and 50 years since the club defeated the All Blacks 9-3 at Stradey Park.
It's clearly something Fitzpatrick would like to see happen.
Now on the board at Parc y Scarlets as a non-executive director and global ambassador, he recently wrote in a column for Rugby World magazine: “I support a global calendar but maybe the All Blacks should tour Europe every three to four years, not every year.
“I’d love to see them come in 2022 and play in Llanelli. That would be unbelievable.”
No Welsh team has beaten New Zealand since that October day 48 years ago when Phil Bennett, Delme Thomas, Roy Bergiers and Co played their way into folklore on a day when the pubs were said to have run dry in Llanelli.
There was also an epic encounter at Stradey Park in 1989, when the visitors prevailed 11-0, playing into the teeth of a gale in the second half and defending a half-time advantage with one of the great displays of keep-ball rugby.
Eight years later they were back again as they cruised to an 81-3 success on an evening lit up by Christian Cullen’s four-try brilliance.
At the online gathering, the 92-cap former hooker also floated the idea of young players and coaches visiting New Zealand to develop personally and professionally, as Graham Henry, Steve Hansen, Warren Gatland, Wayne Pivac and Brad Mooar did when travelling in the other direction as team bosses.
Again, his remarks chimed with his thoughts in Rugby World, when he said: “The Scarlets...have a good affiliation with New Zealand Rugby and I want to help facilitate that, looking at ways for academy players and coaches to gain experience offshore.
“Joe Marchant going to play for the Blues in Super Rugby is a perfect example.
“Looking at younger players, instead of a gap year, why don’t they travel and play in Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington, Invercargill...
“We don’t do enough of that here — coaches don’t travel, players don’t travel. It’s the opposite in the southern hemisphere: it’s almost a rite of passage to have an OE (overseas experience).”
New boss Muderack also updated supporters on his plans for the Scarlets beyond Covid-19.
