HE’S one of the world’s greatest-ever rugby union players.

Sean Fitzpatrick collected a record 92 caps for New Zealand’s All Blacks during just 11 years.

Now the sporting hero from Hampshire has set himself a more relaxing pace as he sits back with a cuppa for charity.

The former rugby captain has joined forces with Saints stars Francis Benali and Paul Jones to kick off a week of tea slurping and biscuit dunking which aims to raise £1m for cancer charity The Haven which has just opened a support centre in Titchfield.

Hundreds of people across the UK are already planning a tea party for the Haven Big Tea Cosy between February 8 and 14 including an event at the Wessex Haven in The Square, Titchfield on February 11.

The centres work closely with the NHS to provide practical and emotional one-to-one support advice and complementary therapies for thousands of people fighting breast cancer and their families.

Other celebrities are also getting behind the event including Coronation Street’s Antony Cotton, known for playing barman and factory worker Sean Tully, West End Star Jodie Prenger and actor Sir Derek Jacobi and his husband Richard Clifford.

The couple will be hosting a romantic afternoon of music, poetry, tea and cake on Valentine’s Day in their home town of Hereford.

Meanwhile, Great British Bake Off 2011 winner Jo Wheatley has created a special coffee and walnut cake recipe especially for The Haven and is calling for budding bakers to send pictures to her of their finished cakes through social media sites Twitter and Instagram.

Sally Hillyear, Wessex Haven fundraising manager said: “We are thrilled that rugby legend Sean Fitzpatrick is lending his support to the Big Tea Cosy. I’m sure his endorsement will help take this campaign to another level and encourage the public in Hampshire to organise tea parties in support of The Haven.

“We want as many people as possible to make a brew for breast cancer. It will directly help improve the lives of people affected by the disease.”

The charity is still calling for people to host a tea party between February 8 and 14. Hosts will be sent a pack which contains invitations, bunting, balloons, donation cards and a special pack of Pukka Womankind herbal tea to get the party started.

Supporters could win a year’s supply of tea by ‘retweeting’ any of the Haven’s #BigTeaCosy posts on Twitter by February 14.

People can also back The Big Tea Cosy campaign with a £5 donation by texting ‘COSY16 £5’ to 70070.

For more information on hosting a party visit thehaven.org.uk/sign-up-to-the-big-tea-cosy.