Stephen Bachop

Stephen Bachop

Birth name	Stephen John Bachop
Date of birth	(1966-04-02) 2 April 1966 (age 58)
Place of birth	Christchurch, New Zealand
Height	1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Weight	92 kg (14 st 7 lb; 203 lb)
School	Hagley High School[1]
Notable relative(s)	Connor Garden-Bachop (son) Jackson Garden-Bachop (son) Graeme Bachop (brother) Nathan Mauger (nephew) Aaron Mauger (nephew)
Occupation(s)	Rugby union coach
Rugby union career
Position(s) First five-eighth Amateur team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 1986-91 Linwood - () 1992-96 Southern - () 1997-98 Te Kawau[2] () Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 1991 Lazio () 1992–96 Otago 79 () 1997–98 Central Vikings 22 (34) 1998–00 London Irish 32 (23) 2000–02 Leeds 42 (52) – Blackrock College () Provincial / State sides Years Team Apps (Points) 1986–91 Canterbury 80 () Super Rugby Years Team Apps (Points) 1996 Highlanders 10 (10) 1997–98 Hurricanes 21 (15) International career Years Team Apps (Points) 1991–99 Samoa 18 (64) 1994 New Zealand 5 (0) Coaching career Years Team 2000–02 Leeds (assistant) 2002 Wellington Lions 2003 Wellington U19 2004–05 Wellington B (asst.) 2005-present International Rugby Academy New Zealand

Stephen John Bachop (born 2 April 1966) is a New Zealand former rugby union player and current coach. He is the older brother of fellow former All Black, Graeme Bachop.

Rugby career

Following the 1985 season, Bachop was selected as one of the "Five promising players" in the Rugby Almanack of New Zealand. He made his debut for Canterbury in the 1986 South Pacific Championship match against Auckland in which he marked All Black Grant Fox. As with his predecessor at Canterbury, Wayne Smith, Bachop was not a goal kicker and this was the role of Robbie Deans.

Bachop had two spells in the National Provincial Championship with each Canterbury and Otago, and also played for the Highlanders in the first Super 12 season in 1996. He then moved north in 1997 and for the next two seasons played with the Central Vikings in the NPC second division and for the Hurricanes in the Super 12.^[3]

Bachop had a key role in Otago's back to back wins over the British and Irish Lions in 1993 and the Springboks in 1994.

All Blacks statistics

Tests: 5 (0 as Captain)
Games: 13 (0 as Captain)
Total Matches: 18 (0 as Captain)
Test Points: 0pts
Game Points: 33pts (6t, 0c, 0p, 1dg, 0m)
Total Points: 33pts (6t, 0c, 0p, 1dg, 0m)

Family

Bachop is of Samoan, Tahitian and Cook Islands Heritage.

Several of Bachop's relatives have played sport at a high level, among them brother Graeme Bachop and nephews Aaron Mauger and Nathan Mauger, all of whom have played for the All Blacks. Stephen's wife was Sue Garden-Bachop, a New Zealand representative and coach at women's rugby. Their sons, Connor Garden-Bachop and Jackson Garden-Bachop, are also professional rugby players, and their daughter Georgia Garden-Bachop has represented New Zealand at age-group level at hockey. Another uncle of Aaron and Nathan is former world speedway champion Ivan Mauger.

References

1. "Could the 1984/85 be the best NZ Schools Rugby Tour ever?!". College Sport Media. 28 January 2016. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
2. Stephen John Bachop at New Zealand Rugby History
3. "Stephen Bachop Rugby Career & Stats | Rugby Database".

External links

• Stephen Bachop at the All Blacks (archived)