New Zealand great Sean Fitzpatrick has entered the debate over the future of the British and Irish Lions by claiming their tours should be expanded not abandoned.

It is 12 years since the Lions won a series, with their recent victory over South Africa in the final Test ending a credibility-damaging run of seven successive defeats.

The 28-9 triumph in Johannesburg concluded an epic series that made for gripping viewing, yet questions persist over the relevance of the Lions in the professional era.

Fitzpatrick, who won three of his 92 caps when he led the All Blacks to victory against the elite of British and Irish rugby in 1993, believes they remain a major force that must be preserved.

"The Lions are probably the most powerful brand in world rugby. Without question they have a future," said Fitzpatrick on behalf of 'Laureus - Breaking the Cycle of Violence'.

"Winning that third Test against South Africa was paramount but even had they lost they'd still be a viable brand.

"You ask anyone who has played against the Lions and they'll tell you they're one of the greatest teams to play against.

"They play sides that are together year-in year-out while they come together every four years, so maybe they need to look at their preparation going into a tour.

"I'd have thought six games before the first Test would be enough. They say they need more, so give them more matches to make them more competitive.
"But look at that series just gone - they should have won it and could have won it 3-0.

"Even if you just look at them in terms of being a money-making brand, they're phenomenal."

The Lions' agonising defeat in the second Test was overshadowed by Schalk Burger's escape with a yellow card for eye-gouging, an offence that later resulted in an eight-week ban.

Widespread condemnation of the brevity of his suspension followed and Fitzpatrick believes the International Rugby Board must rid the game of its most x-rated offence.

"I know Schalk and it was totally out of character but that sort of incident needs to be totally rubbed out of the game," he said.

"It's totally unacceptable. By not increasing the ban the IRB have missed an opportunity.

"There's been a real spate of eye-gouging cases recently and it has to be addressed become mum doesn't want to see little Jonny exposed to that sort of thing and that's totally understandable.

"They've restricted rucking and done many other things to clean up the game, but the real thing they need to get rid of is the eye gouging which is obviously going on more than we know."

The Lions suffered an alarming casualty rate during a brutal tour that reached its bone-crunching climax during the Test series, underlining rugby's increasing physicality.

Player welfare is now a critical issue and Fitzpatrick expects careers to become shorter as the hours spent in the gym continue to challenge the body's limitations.

"The game is so much more physical now because players have more time to get bigger and stronger. Where it will end up I don't know," he said.

"They're big guys so people will get hurt. The knock-on effect is the life span of a professional rugby player will become a lot shorter than what it was.

"Even now professional sportsmen playing international rugby at 28 are considered old. In my day if you were 34 you were coming to the end. It's only going to get worse."