A former Linwood player Graeme Bachop had four years with Christchurch High School Old Boys (1994-97). He was an All Black for nine years, having been first selected for the 1987 trip to Japan in place of David Kirk who had taken up a Rhodes Scholarship at Oxford. Bachop was one of very few players to be selected for New Zealand before ever having represented his province. In 1989 he was promoted to test halfback under coach Alcx Wyllie, winning the test place ahead of Bruce Deans (the great-nephew of Bob Deans), and remained top choice in that position until Wyllie was no longer All Black coach. Brought back again in 1994, Graeme Bachop was widely considered to be the best halfback at the 1995 World Cup.

In 1994, Bachop moved to Old Boys after ten years at Linwood, feeling it was time for a change, "time to play rugby for the enjoyment factor both on and off the field." The opportunity to develop a combination with first five-eighths Andrew Mehrtens was an added attraction. Both Graeme and his wife Ange Bachop were made very welcome and enjoyed weekly visits to the clubrooms together. Bachop believed the move gave him a new lease on life, which was a big part of the reason he was recalled to the All Blacks that year. In 1994 he enjoyed the chance to play for New Zealand alongside his brother Stephen.

Soon after the All Blacks' return from South Africa after the 1995 Rugby World Cup, Bachop took up a contract in Japan. New All Black coach, John Hart, thought so highly of Bachop's skills that he attempted to have the NZRFU changc its eligibility rules so he could continue in the national side despite playing overseas. The Union proved unwilling and Bachop settled in Japan with the Sannix Club, leaving a gap at halfback for the All Blacks, which Old Boys were subsequently happy to fill with Justin Marshall..

Graeme has maintained his interest in the club and when in town can be found on the sideline keeping an eye on the Senior team. From time to time his wonderful passing and running skills are still seen in the North Hagley Touch module and, in 2000, at halfback for the Pacific Barbarians against the All Blacks in a charity match in Japan.

Profile courtesy Kathy Viney, Defyd Williams and the High School Old Boys Rugby Club, Christchurch, NZ.

FULL NAME

Graeme Thomas Miro Bachop

BORN

Sunday, 11 June 1967 in Christchurch

AGE

43

PHYSICAL

1.77m, 82kg

POSITION

Halfback

LAST SCHOOL

Hagley High

RUGBY CLUB
(First made All Blacks from)

Linwood

PROVINCE

Canterbury

RUGBY NICKNAME

Grim

ALL BLACK DEBUT

Wednesday, 21 October 1987
v Japan 'B' at Tokyo
aged 20 years, 132 days

INTERNATIONAL DEBUT

Saturday, 4 November 1989
v Wales at Cardiff
aged 22 years, 146 days

LAST TEST

Saturday, 29 July 1995
v Australia at Sydney
aged 28 years, 48 days

ALL BLACK TESTS

31 (0 as Captain)

ALL BLACK GAMES

23 (0 as Captain)

TOTAL ALL BLACK MATCHES

54 (0 as Captain)

ALL BLACK TEST POINTS

18pts (4t, 0c, 0p, 0dg, 0m)

ALL BLACK GAME POINTS

61pts (15t, 0c, 0p, 0dg, 0m)

TOTAL ALL BLACK POINTS

79pts (19t, 0c, 0p, 0dg, 0m)

ALL BLACK NUMBER

885

The All Black Games that Bachop played.
(+) = substitute; (-) = replaced

Click on the date to be taken to the Match Card

1987

 21 Oct vs Japan 'B' at Tokyo 94-0  

 28 Oct vs Asian Barbarians at Kyoto 96-3  

 4 Nov vs J.R.U. Presidents XV at Tokyo 38-9 (+) 

1988

 19 Jun vs Western Australia at Perth 60-3  

 29 Jun vs N.S.W. Country at Singleton 29-4  

 6 Jul vs A.C.T. at Queanbeyan 16-3  

 13 Jul vs Queensland B at Townsville 39-3  

 20 Jul vs N.S.W. B at Gosford 45-9  

 26 Jul vs Victorian Invitation XV at Melbourne 84-8  

1989

 14 Oct vs Cardiff at Cardiff 25-15  

 18 Oct vs Pontypool at Pontypool 47-6  

 25 Oct vs Neath at Neath 26-15  

 31 Oct vs Newport at Newport 54-9  

 4 Nov vs Wales at Cardiff 34-9  

 11 Nov vs Munster at Cork 31-9  

 18 Nov vs Ireland at Dublin 23-6  

 25 Nov vs Barbarians at London 21-10  

1990

 16 Jun vs Scotland at Dunedin 31-16  

 23 Jun vs Scotland at Auckland 21-18  

 21 Jul vs Australia at Christchurch 21-6  

 4 Aug vs Australia at Auckland 27-17  

 18 Aug vs Australia at Wellington 9-21  

 17 Oct vs Provence/Cote D'Azur Invitation XV at Toulon 15-19  

 24 Oct vs A French XV at Brive 27-24  

 30 Oct vs Cote Basque-Landes at Bayonne 12-18  

 3 Nov vs France at Nantes 24-3  

 10 Nov vs France at Paris 30-12  

1991

 15 Jun vs Rosario at Rosario 81-9  

 22 Jun vs Buenos Aires at Buenos Aires 37-9  

 25 Jun vs Tucuman at Tucuman 21-9  

 2 Jul vs Cuyo at Mendoza 47-12  

 6 Jul vs Argentina at Buenos Aires 28-14  

 13 Jul vs Argentina at Buenos Aires 36-6  

 10 Aug vs Australia at Sydney 12-21  

 24 Aug vs Australia at Auckland 6-3  

 3 Oct vs England at London 18-12  

 8 Oct vs USA at Gloucester 46-6  

 20 Oct vs Canada at Lille 29-13  

 27 Oct vs Australia at Dublin 6-16  

 30 Oct vs Scotland at Cardiff 13-6  

1992

 18 Apr vs World XV at Christchurch 14-28  

 1 Jul vs A.C.T. at Canberra 45-13  

1994

 9 Jul vs South Africa at Dunedin 22-14  

 23 Jul vs South Africa at Wellington 13-9  

 6 Aug vs South Africa at Auckland 18-18  

 17 Aug vs Australia at Sydney 16-20  

1995

 22 Apr vs Canada at Auckland 73-7  

 27 May vs Ireland at Johannesburg 43-19  

 31 May vs Wales at Johannesburg 34-9  

 11 Jun vs Scotland at Pretoria 48-30  

 18 Jun vs England at Cape Town 45-29  

 24 Jun vs South Africa at Johannesburg 12-15  

 22 Jul vs Australia at Auckland 28-16  

 29 Jul vs Australia at Sydney 34-23  

Points scored for the All Blacks

t

c

p

dg

pts

vs Japan 'B', 21 Oct 1987

1

-

-

-

4

vs Asian Barbarians, 28 Oct 1987

2

-

-

-

8

vs N.S.W. Country, 29 Jun 1988

1

-

-

-

4

vs A.C.T., 6 Jul 1988

1

-

-

-

4

vs Queensland B, 13 Jul 1988

2

-

-

-

8

vs N.S.W. B, 20 Jul 1988

1

-

-

-

4

vs Victorian Invitation XV, 26 Jul 1988

2

-

-

-

8

vs Pontypool, 18 Oct 1989

1

-

-

-

4

vs Newport, 31 Oct 1989

1

-

-

-

4

vs Wales, 4 Nov 1989

1

-

-

-

4

vs Munster, 11 Nov 1989

1

-

-

-

4

vs Australia, 4 Aug 1990

1

-

-

-

4

vs Buenos Aires, 22 Jun 1991

1

-

-

-

4

vs A.C.T., 1 Jul 1992

1

-

-

-

5

vs Canada, 22 Apr 1995

1

-

-

-

5

vs England, 18 Jun 1995

1

-

-

-

5

Totals

19

0

0

0

79

Test Record by Nation

P

W

D

L

t

c

p

dg

pts

Argentina

2

2

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Australia

9

5

-

4

1

-

-

-

4

Canada

2

2

-

-

1

-

-

-

5

England

2

2

-

-

1

-

-

-

5

France

2

2

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Ireland

2

2

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Scotland

4

4

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

South Africa

4

2

1

1

-

-

-

-

-

USA

1

1

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Wales

2

2

-

-

1

-

-

-

4

World XV

1

-

-

1

-

-

-

-

-

Totals

31

24

1

6

4

0

0

0

18