Connor Garden-Bachop, player for the Highlanders, a New Zealand club which plays in Super Rugby, died suddenly at the age of 25, the New Zealand Rugby Federation announced on Tuesday.
“Connor passed away on Monday (…) and the entire rugby world is focused on supporting his loved ones,” New Zealand Rugby said in a statement. The New Zealand police, for their part, announced that they had been contacted following a sudden death in Christchurch on Monday evening, adding that they did not consider the death “suspicious”, that is to say not justifying thorough investigation. It will be up to forensic medicine to determine the precise cause of death.
After joining the Highlanders in 2021, Connor Garden-Bachop, who played as a winger, had played a total of 30 matches in Super Rugby, the main club competition in the Southern Hemisphere. He was not expected to continue the adventure with the Highlanders next season.
Connor Garden-Bachop is the son of former New Zealand internationals Stephen Bachop and Susan Garden-Bachop, and the nephew of another All Black, Graeme Bachop. His older brother, Jackson (29), plays in Brive, France.
“It is with immense sadness that we have just learned of the death of Connor Garden-Bachop… All our thoughts are with his brother Jackson, his family and his loved ones,” reacted the second division club ( Pro D2) on his X account. Connor Garden-Bachop was the father of twin girls, and the announcement of his death was followed by many other tributes on social networks. “Rest in peace my brother. I love you, my guy,” his teammate Jona Nareki posted on Instagram.
Mathieu Idiart with AFP Journalist RMC Sport
