He was true to himself, he filled a room with energy, and he had a glorious mix of confidence and love.
Garden-Bachop, who died from a medical event in Christchurch last Monday, was farewelled at the Linwood rugby club yesterday.
His service was both moving and light-hearted as mourners shared memories of a 25-year-old father of twin girls, a beloved son and brother, a musician, the joker in the pack and a talented rugby player.
One of the most heartfelt tributes came from older brother and fellow professional player Jackson, who said he was blessed to have had 25 years with Connor.
"I can assure you that he didn’t waste a single second of them."
Jackson referred to his brother’s "huge smile, outrageously over-the-top laugh and unapologetic ability to be himself".
"It was impossible not to be drawn into him. I was absolutely blessed to have the opportunity to enjoy Connor’s journey ... and as our relationship grew — brother, friend, team-mate — so did my definition of what success in life could be."
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, whose casket’s decoration included a Highlanders jersey.
Garden-Bachop led the team song, had the knack of bringing the team together, and made people feel good about themselves, he said.
"He was always himself," Harmon said. "That’s why we loved him. That’s why he was one of a kind."
Harmon, who also played with Garden-Bachop at Canterbury and the Maori All Blacks, recalled the confident youngster when he first came into the provincial squad.
"He was loud, he was giving s... to the old boys, he was laughing as he broke our defensive line at training. But it wasn’t just talk. He got his first crack against Hawke’s Bay, came on and scored a try with his first touch of the ball."
Many of Garden-Bachop’s blended family and extended whanau also spoke.
Sister Mia said the family were proud of their "darling boy", who was born in England.
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 sister said.
Old mates from Scots College and the Porirua-based Northern United rugby club also spoke at the service.
Garden-Bachop, who played 35 games for the Highlanders from his debut in 2021, had signed a deal to play in Japan next season.
The Wellington-raised wing 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.
