Rugby: Sean Fitzpatrick goes to bat for tours as part of the game's traditional values

New Zealand rugby great Sean Fitzpatrick. Photo / Richard Robinson

Former New Zealand captain Sean Fitzpatrick has strongly rejected claims that the future of the British & Irish Lions is in jeopardy.

Talk in the build-up to last night's second test in Wellington was centred around combining tours as part of the new global season from the end of 2019.

Lions tour manager John Spencer last week suggested that caving to pressure to shorten the tours by a week, and two matches, would jeopardise the Lions' future.

Fitzpatrick was captain the last time the All Blacks lost to the Lions, back in 1993, although his side went on to win the series 2-1.

Hitting out at suggestions that the tour to New Zealand could be the last, Fitzpatrick stressed how much the concept meant not only to those in the British Isles and Ireland, but also in his home country.

"I cannot believe what I'm hearing coming out of Britain at the moment. This is the biggest thing in rugby outside of the Rugby World Cup," Fitzpatrick said. "The Lions are phenomenal. We should not even be discussing [the tour being the last].

"It is all very well talking about that if you are 12,000 miles away, and I understand the arguments in terms of a global season. But this tour is what rugby is all about.

"I love the professional game and everything about it, but we need to be a little bit old-school occasionally. The Lions are very much part of our history and the fabric of what we are.

"I have never seen Eden Park like it was last week - a sea of red for an All Blacks game, which was bizarre. It says a lot about the Lions' supporters and how good they are."

Current All Blacks captain Kieran Read also endorsed keeping the Lions alive on Friday.

"I don't think that [killing off Lions tours] will happen," Read said. "It has just been so exciting being around the country over the last couple of weeks and seeing the supporters from both sides. The fans are so passionate about the game. I'm sure it will continue."