Former All Black Brad Weber Sounds Alarm Bells for New Zealand Rugby

Brad Weber, the seasoned All Black who recently made the move to Stade Francais in the Top 14, has shared his candid perspective on the current state of New Zealand Rugby. After over a decade of dedicated service to New Zealand Rugby, representing Otago, Waikato, Hawkes Bay, the Chiefs in Super Rugby, and the All Blacks, Weber’s departure to France marked a significant shift in his illustrious career.

Speaking to Newshub from the impressive facilities at Stade Francais in Paris, Weber expressed his amazement at the treatment players receive in France. “It’s impressive. Everything you could ask for, you get. You get your stuff washed for you, there’s breakfast and lunch every day. These guys don’t know how good they’ve got it. It’s unreal,” he remarked.

With 18 Test caps for the All Blacks, Weber now observes the global rugby landscape with an experienced eye, having witnessed both the unprecedented success and the current challenges faced by New Zealand Rugby.

As a member of the renowned New Zealand U20 side from 2011, Weber has seen the dynamics of the game evolve over his career. He emphasized the need for Super Rugby to adapt and acknowledged that “alarm bells” were ringing in New Zealand rugby circles.

“I’m not paid well enough to figure out ways to make it better, and I guess I’d like to move into something like that maybe one day,” Weber commented. “Super Rugby’s certainly going to have to improve and make some sort of changes.”

Expressing concern about declining participation at the grassroots level and the underperformance of the U20s team, Weber urged the need for addressing these challenges promptly. “We certainly need to address something because it’s obviously declined, and we don’t want it to decline any more,” he added.

Weber, who was part of Ian Foster’s All Black squad in 2021, found himself excluded ahead of the Ireland series in 2022. Despite facing challenges, including missing out on the Rugby World Cup squad for 2023, he remains optimistic about the potential for positive changes.

“I’d never bet against the All Blacks and NZ Rugby. We certainly always try to find a way. We might be in a tough spot at the moment, but I just still back the people that we’ve got. I still think we’ve got the right people that can turn it around,” concluded Weber, expressing confidence in the resilience and adaptability of New Zealand Rugby.