Stephen Bachop

Infobox Rugby biography
name = Stephen Bachop


birthname = Stephen John Bachop
nickname =
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1966|4|2
placeofbirth = Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand
age = 42
height = height|m=1.78
weight = convert|79|kg|stlb|abbr=on
ru_position =Half-back
ru_currentclub =
ru_amateuryears =
ru_amateurclubs =
ru_amateurcaps = -
-
ru_amateurpoints = (-)
(-)
ru_amupdate =
allblackid = 29
allblackno = 925
ru_nationalyears = 1992-1994
ru_nationalteam = New Zealand
Samoa
ru_nationalcaps = 5
-
ru_nationalpoints = (0)
(-)
ru_ntupdate = 13 February, 2007
super14 = Highlanders
Hurricanes
super14caps = -
-
super14points = (-)
(-)
super14years = 1996
1997-1998
super14update =
ru_province = Canterbury
Otago
ru_provinceyears =
ru_provincecaps = -
-
ru_provincepoints = (-)
(-)
ru_provinceupdate =
other = yes
occupation = Amateur rugby union footballer
school = Hagley High School
spouse = Sue Bachop
relatives = Graeme Bachop (brother)
Nathan Mauger (nephew)
Aaron Mauger (nephew)
URL =

Stephen Bachop (born 2 April 1966 in Christchurch) is a former rugby player from New Zealand. He is the older brother of fellow All Black Graeme Bachop.

Rugby career

Provincial

Bachop had two spells in the National Provincial Champtionship 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.

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.

International

Although his brother Graeme had the more significant All Black career, Stephen played extensively in two stints with Manu Samoa which covered the 1991 and 1999 Rugby World Cups.

He was a member of the All Blacks' tour of Australia and South Africa in 1992 but could not displace Grant 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.

Unable to gain an All Black place, he took advantage of his Samoan heritage to play for their national team at the 1991 Rugby World Cup. But the loose international eligibility regulations of the time saw him switching allegiance back to New Zealand in 1992.

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 Stephen in four of these tests.

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 Rugby 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 scored 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. Stephen spent the latter part of his career with Leeds Tykes and London Irish playing in British and European competitions and in 2002 he returned to New Zealand helping the Wellington coaching staff in the NPC.

Stephen 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 did not play again for the All Blacks.

Family

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.

Bachop's wife Sue (née Garden) appeared for the New Zealand Womens Rugby team in 1989-1991 and briefly coached a men's senior team in Wellington.

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)

External links

*All Blacks|id=29|name=Stephen Bachop