“Fun Equals Success” – Connor Garden-Bachop

Above: Connor Garden-Bachop playing in his last match for Northern United, the 2022 Jubilee Cup semi-final. PHOTO: Chainsaw Photos. 

News this morning that Connor Garden-Bachop has passed away.

The following is a media statement by NZR:

On behalf of the entire rugby community, the Highlanders, Wellington Rugby, New Zealand Rugby, the New Zealand Māori Rugby Board and the New Zealand Rugby Players Association would like to extend our deepest thoughts and love to the Garden-Bachop family.

Connor passed away on Monday following a medical event, and rugby’s collective focus at this time is on supporting his family. All of rugby walks alongside the Garden-Bachop family at this time and we are collectively united in our grief.

Connor was a fantastic young player, an exciting New Zealand age-grade representative and a proud Māori All Black. Wherever he played, he was a committed and popular teammate with infectious energy and someone who could light up the room.

Most importantly, he was a loving father to his twin girls, a brother, a son and immeasurably loved by all those who knew him.

The following story was written by Adam Julian and published on College Sport Media in March 2015:

Connor Garden-Bachop – Fun Equals Success

In the first game of the 2014 rugby season Scots College was hammered 43-0 by Sacred Heart College from Auckland.

Scots went onto become joint National Champions while Sacred Heart missed out on the 1A Auckland title for the 50th consecutive year.
Winger Connor Garden-Bachop didn’t play the Sacred Heart game, but recalls his reaction to the result.

“I was pretty shocked. I even heard the Tongan Thor (Daniel Tupou) gassed TJ Va’a. It was unbelievable.”

Scots gradually improved from that setback and in Round 3 of the Wellington competition announced themselves as a title contender. Garden-Bachop reflects on the narrow defeat to St. Patrick’s College, Silverstream.

“We lost 28-26 and Peter Umaga-Jensen hit the post with a conversion attempt. Getting so close to the best made me realise we had a really good team that could go places.”

In the Premier one final Scots surged to an 18-3 lead. Silverstream rallied to draw level. What was said in the Scots huddle when Silverstream’s Nic Mannix kicked a penalty to tie the scores?

“We tried to keep claim. We were telling each other we can do this. We had to be positive and we got a last-minute penalty. It was the best feeling ever winning the final in front of the school.”

Scots went onto to draw the National Top Four decider against Hamilton Boys’ High School. Garden-Bachop scored two tries in the final. The second try showcased Garden-Bachop at his opportunistic best. He charged the ball down and was the only one running when he gathered it.

“I startled myself. I charged the ball down and knew I hadn’t knocked it on. I thought far out, there is no one chasing me.”

Garden-Bachop was called up for a forward pass though.

“I run down the sideline and had a three on one. Thomas (Umaga-Jensen) was on my inside and Joe (Boswell) on my outside. The adrenalin was pumping and I passed to Thomas when the easier choice would have been to pass to Joe, but I couldn’t hear him.”

The risk and reward approach that Scots played with last year saw them score 116 tries in 21 games. Garden-Bachop crossed for 11 tries in 17 games and later at the Condor Sevens he scored six tries on finals day to earn a place in the tournament team.

Garden-Bachop says he expects Scots to adopt a similar approach again.

“It was fun being given a free licence to attack. It’s allowed the boys to express themselves and let their natural flair come out. I think we will play the same way this year. We have got the Umaga-Jensen twins and Alex Fidow back so I can’t wait to see how things come together.”

Garden-Bachop accepts it will be a monumental challenge replicating the feats of 2014, but says by “having fun you never know what could happen.”

Garden-Bachop will most likely play fullback, but can cover first-five. The Umaga-Jensen twins can cover multiple positions and locks Henry Mextad and Jarimar Schuster who were both Wellington under-18 reps return.

Garden-Bachop is the son of former All Black Stephen Bachop and the late Sue Garden who represented New Zealand in four sports: Rugby, League, touch and basketball with Rachel Umaga Jensen, the mother of the twins.

In addition to rugby and sevens, Jackson has played dragon boating, volleyball, handball and athletics at Scots.

In Volleyball he was junior-A Captain in Year 10 and plays “on a Friday night with the rugby boys.”

“I enjoy volleyball.” Garden-Bachop says, “It’s a dynamic game that tests your fitness and dexterity.”

On a Wednesday night Garden-Bachop plays volleyball for the senior-A side. He is an attacking player on the left side.

In athletics Garden-Bachop won four events at the Scots College athletics day: triple jump, long jump, shot put and discus. He was a silver medallist in discus at the North Island championships last year. Garden-Bachop explains why he keeps such a busy schedule.

“Mum always said to keep busy.”

Two Tries in a Top Four Final
1985: Raymond Barchard – St Stephen’s School v Napier BHS
1990: Niki Tuwhangi – Wesley College v Gisborne BHS
1992: Casino Doyle (3 tries) – Auckland GS v Napier BHS
1996: Richard Rasmussen – Kelston BHS v Palmerston North BHS
1997: Sione Kepu/Salesi Moimoi – Wesley College v Palmerston North BHS
1999: Ray Isara – Kelston BHS v Christchurch BHS
2001: Sailosi Tagicakibau/ Tekori Luteru – Wesley College v Rotorua BHS
2004: Sekope Kepu – Wesley College v Christchurch BHS
2010: Milford Keresoma – Mount Albert GS v Hamilton BHS
2012: Dillon Wihongi – St. Kentigern College v Otago BHS
2014: Connor Garden Bachop (Scots College)
2014: Solomone Tukuafu (Hamilton BHS)

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