Stephen Bachop joined the Hurricanes in 1997 as a vastly experienced first five-eighth, with 80 first games under his belt for Canterbury, 79 for Otago, a season with the Highlanders in 1996, a stint with Manu Samoa and three years in the All Blacks.

Taking advantage of the loose international regulations, Bachop earned distinction for representing Samoa at the 1991 World Cup, switching to the All Blacks between 1992 and 1994 and then switching back to play for Samoa in the 1999 World Cup.  

As an All Black, he first made the All Blacks tour of Australia and South Africa in 1992 as an understudy to Grant Fox. He was also selected for the tour of Scotland and England in 1993, but again in a back-up role. He earned test honours on five occasions against France, South Africa and Australia in the 1994 season.

Bachop moved to the Manawatu in 1997 and for the next two seasons played with the Central Vikings in the NPC Second Division and concurrently for the Hurricanes where his incisive running game and natural attacking flair contributed immensely to the Hurricanes’ early success in the Super 12.

Bachop’s younger brother Graeme also played for the All Blacks at halfback. Stephen 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 Lions coaching staff in the NPC. In 2013 and 2014 he was the coaching coordinator of Northern United.

In 2014 his eldest son, Jackson, made his debut for the Wellington Lions in the ITM Cup before he gained selection in the Hurricanes in 2018 after an impressive 2017 provincial campaign, also with Wellington.