In the 1981 World Rowing Championships at Oberschleißheim outside Munich, Germany, the New Zealand eight came seventh.
[1] The crew changed significantly prior to the 1982 World Rowing Championships at Rotsee in Lucerne, Switzerland, with four of the rowers and the coxswain replaced.
[3] Two of the team members were substituted for the 1983 World Rowing Championships at Wedau in Duisburg, Germany, with Brook and O'Connell replaced by Barrie Mabbott and Nigel Atherfold.
The New Zealand eight defended its world title, with East Germany coming second, and Australia in third place.
[4] Many of the team went on to compete at the 1984 Summer Olympics, where there was a great expectation for them to win gold.