Highlanders players and staff joined the farewell for late team-mate Connor Garden-Bachop in Christchurch this afternoon.
A memorial service for Garden-Bachop, who died from a medical event on Monday last week, was held at the Linwood rugby club.
The 25-year-old outside back leaves behind twin daughters.
Highlanders players, including All Blacks prop Ethan de Groot, gathered with Garden-Bachop’s friends and family to pay their respects.
One of the first to pay tribute to the young Highlander at the service was one of his sisters, Mia, who said the family were proud of their "darling boy".
Garden-Bachop was full of energy from a young age, and loaded with “competitiveness, cheekiness and charisma”.
He was a doting dad on his 4-year-old twins.
“Fatherhood looked so good on him.”
His brother, Jackson, said he was blessed to have had 25 years with Connor.
Jackson referred to his brother’s “huge smile, outrageously over-the-top laugh and unapologetic ability to be himself.”
A lifelong memory would be giving Connor his representative tie after he joined his brother as a Wellington Lions player, Jackson said.
Highlanders captain Billy Harmon paid tribute to the joker in the squad.
Garden-Bachop led the team song, had the knack of bringing the team together, and made people feel good about themselves.
“He was always himself. That’s why we loved him. That’s why he was one of a kind.”
Ngane Punivai recalled joining the Crusaders academy alongside Garden-Bachop in 2017. They later played three seasons together with the Highlanders.
"His cheeky, loving personality made him so special," Punivai said.
"His love and ability to support you through hard times was second to none."
The Wellington-raised winger or fullback was the son of former All Blacks and Otago first five Stephen Bachop and former Black Fern Sue Garden-Bachop, who died of cancer in 2009.
He also represented the Māori All Blacks.
His death cast a cloud over the end of the Super Rugby Pacific season.
A joint statement last week from NZR, the New Zealand Māori Rugby Board, the Highlanders, Wellington Rugby and the New Zealand Rugby Players Association said the organisations extended their "deepest thoughts and love to the Garden-Bachop family".
They were "collectively united in our grief", the organisations said.
"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 team-mate 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."
There was a moment’s silence to honour Garden-Bachop before the Super Rugby Pacific final on Saturday night between the Blues and the Chiefs.
