Stephen Bachop was the older (by 14 months) of two Canterbury brothers who both enjoyed long and varied international careers. Graeme had the more significant All Black career but Steve, even if he had just the one season as a test player, also played extensively in two stints with Manu Samoa which covered the World Cup tournaments of 1991 and 1999.

In their teenaged years the two Bachops, both of whom had won national schools or age grade recognition, were an inside back combination and they appeared as such for the New Zealand Colts in 1987.

But in provincial rugby they had only a brief time together. Graeme, even though becoming an All Black in 1987, took several seasons to establish himself ahead of another All Black, Bruce Deans, as Canterbury's number one halfback. And by the time he did so Stephen had transferred to Otago where he became part of one of the most exciting New Zealand provincial backlines in the early to mid 90s.

Stephen Bachop had an especially key role in Otago's back to back wins over the Lions in 1993 and the Springboks in 1994.

Unable to gain an All Black place with Grant Fox at his peak, Stephen Bachop took advantage of his smattering of Samoan heritage to play impressively at the 1991 World Cup. But the loose international eligibility regulations of the time saw him switching allegiance to New Zealand in 1992.

He made the All Blacks' tour of Australia and South Africa in 1992 but could not displace Fox from the tests. He was also selected for the tour of Scotland and England in 1993 but even though Fox had retired by then Bachop could not make the test lineup.

Instead the young utility back Marc Ellis was preferred. While Bachop was seen as a talented and skilful player some coaches led by Laurie Mains had reservations about his defensive frailties.

Bachop at last gained an All Black test position when he played on five occasions against France, South Africa and Australia in the 1994 season. Graeme, who had been overlooked for the All Blacks inexplicably for three years, was recalled to partner Steve in four of these tests.

But while Graeme reasserted his claim to be the All Blacks' top halfback, after so many seasons in the wilderness, Steve was omitted in 1995 for the World Cup even though he played in all of the trials. The young Andrew Mehrtens had then emerged and Stephen Bachop did not play again for the All Blacks.

Having had two lengthy spells at NPC level with each of Canterbury and Otago and playing for the Highlanders in the first Super 12 season of 1996, Steve Bachop 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.

And in the late 90s, with the international regulations still somewhat loose, Bachop resumed his association with Manu Samoa and had a starring role at the 1999 World Cup. In 1991 Samoa, with Bachop at first five, had enjoyed a famous win over Wales at Cardiff Arms Park and eight years later that was repeated and again Bachop was a dominant figure. Despite now being well into his 30s he showed surprising pace to scamper away for two tries.

By then his brother had been in Japan for many years and twice in 1999 the two brothers appeared against each other in internationals: in a World Cup pool match in Wales and earlier in the year in a Pacific Rim tournament match. Steve spent the latter part of his career with London Irish playing in British and European competitions and in 2002 he returned to New Zealand helping the Wellington coaching staff in the NPC.

The remarkable family record of the Bachop brothers was extended in the early 2000s when their nephews, Aaron and Nathan Mauger, followed them into Canterbury sides and became All Blacks together on the 2002 tour of Scotland, Ireland and Argentina.

Stephen Bachop's wife Sue (nee Garden) appeared for the New Zealand Womens team in 1989,91 and briefly coached a men's senior team in Wellington.

Profile by Lindsay Knight
for the New Zealand Rugby Museum.

FULL NAME

Stephen John Bachop

BORN

Saturday, 2 April 1966 in Christchurch

AGE

44

PHYSICAL

1.78m, 78kg

POSITION

First five-eighth

LAST SCHOOL

Hagley High

RUGBY CLUB
(First made All Blacks from)

Southern

PROVINCE

Otago

ALL BLACK DEBUT

Sunday, 21 June 1992
v Western Australia at Perth
aged 26 years, 80 days

INTERNATIONAL DEBUT

Sunday, 3 July 1994
v France at Auckland
aged 28 years, 92 days

LAST TEST

Wednesday, 17 August 1994
v Australia at Sydney
aged 28 years, 137 days

ALL BLACK TESTS

5 (0 as Captain)

ALL BLACK GAMES

13 (0 as Captain)

TOTAL ALL BLACK MATCHES

18 (0 as Captain)

ALL BLACK TEST POINTS

0pts

ALL BLACK GAME POINTS

33pts (6t, 0c, 0p, 1dg, 0m)

TOTAL ALL BLACK POINTS

33pts (6t, 0c, 0p, 1dg, 0m)

ALL BLACK NUMBER

925

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

Click on the date to be taken to the Match Card

1992

 21 Jun vs Western Australia at Perth 80-0  

 1 Jul vs A.C.T. at Canberra 45-13  

 8 Jul vs Victorian Invitation XV at Melbourne 53-3  

 15 Jul vs Queensland B at Cairns 32-13  

 22 Jul vs Sydney at Sydney 17-40  

 5 Aug vs Orange Free State at Bloemfontein 33-14  

 10 Aug vs Central Unions at Witbank 39-6  

1993

 23 Oct vs London & SE Division at London 39-12  

 30 Oct vs England South West at Redruth 19-15  

 10 Nov vs South of Scotland at Galashiels 84-5  

 16 Nov vs Scottish Development XV at Edinburgh 31-12  

 23 Nov vs England Emerging Players at Gloucester 30-19  

 30 Nov vs Combined Services at Plymouth 13-3  

1994

 3 Jul vs France at Auckland 20-23  

 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  

Points scored for the All Blacks

t

c

p

dg

pts

vs Western Australia, 21 Jun 1992

1

-

-

-

5

vs Victorian Invitation XV, 8 Jul 1992

1

-

-

-

5

vs Central Unions, 10 Aug 1992

1

-

-

-

5

vs London & SE Division, 23 Oct 1993

2

-

-

-

10

vs South of Scotland, 10 Nov 1993

1

-

-

-

5

vs England Emerging Players, 23 Nov 1993

-

-

-

1

3

Totals

6

0

0

1

33

Test Record by Nation

P

W

D

L

t

c

p

dg

pts

Australia

1

-

-

1

-

-

-

-

-

France

1

-

-

1

-

-

-

-

-

South Africa

3

2

1

-

-

-

-

-

-

Totals

5

2

1

2

0

0

0

0

0