Connor Garden-Bachop: Ex-Highlanders and Maori All Blacks Super Rugby player dies aged 25

Tom Morton
By Tom Morton
18th Jun 2024, 7:04am
Connor Garden-Bachop of the Highlanders charges forward during the round four Super Rugby Pacific match between Highlanders and ACT Brumbies at Forsyth Barr Stadium, on March 16 this year in Dunedin, New Zealand Picture: Joe Allison/Getty ImagesConnor Garden-Bachop of the Highlanders charges forward during the round four Super Rugby Pacific match between Highlanders and ACT Brumbies at Forsyth Barr Stadium, on March 16 this year in Dunedin, New Zealand Picture: Joe Allison/Getty Images
Connor Garden-Bachop of the Highlanders charges forward during the round four Super Rugby Pacific match between Highlanders and ACT Brumbies at Forsyth Barr Stadium, on March 16 this year in Dunedin, New Zealand Picture: Joe Allison/Getty Images | Getty Images
Super Rugby player Connor Garden-Bachop has died at the age of 25, New Zealand Rugby has confirmed.

The son of former All Black and Samoa outside-half Stephen and nephew of ex-All Black scrum-half Graeme, the winger had just ended a five-year spell with the Highlanders. He also played for the Maori All Blacks.

In a statement, New Zealand Rugby said he died “following a medical event” in Christchurch on Monday.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“All of rugby walks alongside the Garden-Bachop family at this time and we are collectively united in our grief,” read the statement, which was also signed by the New Zealand Maori Rugby Board, the Highlanders, Wellington Rugby and the New Zealand Rugby Players’ Association.

“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 statement included a verse in the indigenous Maori language, which included the line “the rugby world weeps for you”.

Related topics:New ZealandRugby

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.