{{Short description|New Zealand rugby union player}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2014}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=June 2014}} {{Infobox rugby biography | name = Brad Weber | image = Brad Weber 2021.jpg | image_size = | caption = Weber in 2021 | fullname = Brad McCormick Weber | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1991|01|17|df=y}} | birth_place = [[Napier, New Zealand|Napier]], New Zealand | height = {{convert|172|cm|ftin|0|abbr=on}} | weight = {{convert|75|kg|lb stlb|0|abbr=on}} | school = [[Napier Boys' High School]] | university = | relatives = | occupation = | spouse = | position = [[Scrum-half (rugby union)|Half-back]] | currentclub = [[Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars]] | youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = | years1 = 2012 | clubs1 = [[Otago (National Provincial Championship)|Otago]] | apps1 = 9 | points1 = 0 | years2 = 2013–2015 | clubs2 = [[Waikato (National Provincial Championship)|Waikato]] | apps2 = 26 | points2 = 62 | years3 = 2014–2023 | clubs3 = [[Chiefs (rugby union)|Chiefs]] | apps3 = 123 | points3 = 139 | years4 = 2016–2023 | clubs4 = [[Hawke's Bay (National Provincial Championship)|Hawke's Bay]] | apps4 = 50 | points4 = 127 | years5 = 2023–2025 | clubs5 = [[Stade Français]] | apps5 = 35 | points5 = 15 | years6 = 2025– | clubs6 = [[Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars]] | apps6 = 14 | points6 = 15 | repyears1 = 2011 | repteam1 = [[New Zealand national under-20 rugby union team|New Zealand U20]] | repcaps1 = 5 | reppoints1 = 10 | repyears2 = 2015–2022 | repteam2 = [[New Zealand national rugby union team|New Zealand]] | repcaps2 = 18<!-- Total test international appearances --> | reppoints2 = 30<!-- Total test international points --> | repyears3 = 2015–2022 | repteam3 = [[Māori All Blacks]] | repcaps3 = 9 | reppoints3 = 15 | repyears4 = 2020 | repteam4 = [[South Island rugby union team|South Island]] | repcaps4 = 1 | reppoints4 = 0 | repyears5 = 2022–2023 | repteam5 = [[All Blacks XV]] | repcaps5 = 3 | reppoints5 = 0 | clubupdate = 7 May 2026 | repupdate = 16 May 2024 }}
'''Brad McCormick Weber''' (born 17 January 1991) is a New Zealand [[rugby union]] player, who currently plays as a [[Half-back (rugby union)|halfback]] for [[Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars]] in the [[Japan Rugby League One]].<ref name="Brad Weber joins Mitsubishi DynaBoars"/> He previously played for {{rut|Hawke's Bay}} in the [[National Provincial Championship (2006–present)|National Provincial Championship]],<ref name="2023 Magpies squad release">{{cite web | url=https://www.sporty.co.nz/magpies/newsarticle/130396 | title=2023 Magpies squad release | website=Hawke's Bay Rugby Union | language=en | date=5 July 2023 | access-date=6 July 2023}}</ref> the {{Rut|Chiefs}} in [[Super Rugby]]<ref name="Brad Weber Chiefs Player Profile">{{cite web | url=https://www.chiefs.co.nz/player/brad-weber | title=Brad Weber Chiefs Player Profile | work=Chiefs | access-date=19 February 2022}}</ref> and for [[Stade Français]] in the French [[Top 14]].<ref name="All Blacks halfback Brad Weber's move to Stade Francais confirmed"/> He has represented [[New Zealand national rugby union team|New Zealand]] internationally.
==Early life== Brother of Napier Marist rugby player Sam Weber and son of Neil Weber. Brad attended St Patrick's school in Napier before moving to Napier Boys’ High School for his secondary school education. Brad played his junior rugby for Napier Old Boys’ Marist and was selected into the Napier Ross Shield team in 2003.{{citation needed|date=June 2025}}
==Career== After moving to [[Dunedin]] he joined the Dunedin Rugby Football Club (Inc) 'The Sharks' Established in 1871 playing firstly for the Premier Colts side in 2010 and then the Senior Premier side in 2011. He was in the Hawkes Bay ITM side in that year. He played for Dunedin in 2012 and was in the Senior Premier side that were runners up for the Premier Banner. In 2013 the Dunedin Premier side won the Premier 1 Dunedin Metropolitan Club Championship and the club named him Speight's Premier Player of the year. Weber has still referenced his playing days with the 'Sharks' with a 'Fins Up' salute after he has scored for his current team.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sporty.co.nz/dunedinrfc|title = Dunedin Rugby Football Club (Inc)}}</ref>
Weber started his senior career playing for the {{Rut|Otago}} Razorbacks while studying for an applied science degree at [[the University of Otago]]. He made nine appearances during the [[2012 ITM Cup]], but could not dislodge [[Fumiaki Tanaka]] as first choice half-back.
2013 did not start well for him as rising-star [[Josh Renton]] was named ahead of him in the [[Dunedin]] team's [[2013 ITM Cup|ITM Cup]] squad and he began to focus more on his studies than rugby. However, a month into the season he received a call from {{Rut|Waikato}} coach Johnny Walters who wanted to take him north to provide more competition for halfbacks [[Michael Snowden|Mick Snowden]] and [[Kylem O'Donnell]].<ref name="Brad Weber makes mercy dash to join Mooloos">{{cite web | url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/sport/9126106/Brad-Weber-makes-mercy-dash-to-join-Mooloos | title=Brad Weber makes mercy dash to join Mooloos | work=[[Waikato Times]] | date=5 September 2013 | access-date=24 February 2013}}</ref> His switch was more successful than he could have imagined as a series of good performances saw him named in the {{Rut|Chiefs}} wider training group ahead of the [[2014 Super Rugby season]].<ref name="NZ Super Rugby franchises name 2014 squads">{{cite web |url=http://www.superxv.com/40703/1/nz-super-rugby-franchises-name-2014-squads |title=NZ Super Rugby franchises name 2014 squads |work=Super XV |date=29 October 2013 |access-date=24 February 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101212835/http://www.superxv.com/40703/1/nz-super-rugby-franchises-name-2014-squads |archive-date=1 November 2013 |df=dmy }}</ref> [[Tawera Kerr-Barlow]] and [[Augustine Pulu]] were selected as the defending champions first-choice halfbacks; however, an injury to Kerr-Barlow prior to the season opener against the {{Rut|Crusaders}} opened the door for Weber, who made his Super Rugby debut as a second-half substitute in an 18–10 win for the Chiefs.<ref name="Match Centre - Super Rugby - Crusaders vs Chiefs">{{cite web | url=https://super.rugby/superrugby/match-centre/?competition=205&season=2014&match=514021 | title=Match Centre - Super Rugby - Crusaders vs Chiefs | work=SANZAAR | access-date=16 July 2023}}</ref>
Weber was named captain of the Waikato ITM Cup squad for the [[2014 ITM Cup|2014 ITM Cup season]]<ref name="Initial 2014 ITM Cup Squad Announced">{{cite web | url=http://www.mooloo.co.nz/news/initial-2014-itm-cup-squad-announced/ | title=Initial 2014 ITM Cup Squad Announced | work=Waikato Rugby | date=9 June 2014 | access-date=23 June 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140612023319/http://www.mooloo.co.nz/news/initial-2014-itm-cup-squad-announced | archive-date=12 June 2014 | url-status=dead }}</ref> and co-captain with [[Whetu Douglas]] for the [[2015 ITM Cup|2015 ITM Cup season]].<ref name="2015 Waikato Captaincy">{{cite web | url=http://m.mooloo.co.nz/news/waikato-2015-itm-cup-captaincy-announcment/ | title=Waikato 2015 ITM Cup Captaincy Announcement | work=Waikato Rugby | date=4 August 2015 | access-date=13 October 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304093743/http://m.mooloo.co.nz/news/waikato-2015-itm-cup-captaincy-announcment/ | archive-date=4 March 2016 | url-status=dead }}</ref>
At the end of the 2015 ITM Cup season, after scoring a second half hat trick in the final match against {{rut|Hawke's Bay}} to win the [[Ranfurly Shield]] for Waikato, it was announced that Weber had signed a contract to return to Napier to play for Hawke's Bay during the [[2016 ITM Cup]] season.<ref name="Weber Hawkes Bay 2015">{{cite web | url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/provincial/72967038/waikato-confirm-brad-webers-departure-to-hawkes-bay | title=Waikato confirm Brad Weber's departure to Hawke's Bay | work=Stuff New Zealand | date=13 October 2015 | access-date=13 October 2015}}</ref>
On 19 May 2023, after ten years at the franchise, the Chiefs announced that Weber would be leaving for France after the 2023 season.<ref name="Brad Weber confirms 2023 will be his last season with the Gallagher Chiefs">{{cite press release | url=https://www.chiefs.co.nz/news-item/brad-weber-confirms-2023-will-be-his-last-season-with-the-gallagher-chiefs | title=Brad Weber confirms 2023 will be his last season with the Gallagher Chiefs | work=Chiefs | date=19 May 2023 | access-date=16 July 2023}}</ref> French [[Top 14]] club [[Stade Français]] confirmed on 7 June 2023 that it had signed Weber ahead of the [[2023–24 Top 14 season]].<ref name="Bienvenue Brad">{{cite tweet | number=1666124037167386626 | user=SFParisRugby | title=Brad Weber 17 caps sous le maillot des All Blacks, 9 saisons avec la province de Waikato. Le chef d’orchestre & expérimenté co-capitaine des Chiefs sera à la baguette la saison prochaine | date=7 June 2023 | access-date=14 July 2023}}</ref><ref name="All Blacks halfback Brad Weber's move to Stade Francais confirmed">{{cite news | url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/132248236/all-blacks-halfback-brad-webers-move-to-stade-francais-confirmed | title=All Blacks halfback Brad Weber's move to Stade Francais confirmed | work=Stuff New Zealand | date=7 June 2023 | access-date=3 January 2026}}</ref>
Weber made his debut for Stade Français – from the bench – on 18 November 2023 against {{rut|Racing 92}}.<ref name="Hawke’s Bay’s Brad Weber makes French debut in Parisian derby">{{cite news | url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/news/hawkes-bays-brad-weber-makes-french-debut-in-parisian-derby/JAGDJZFWHFGKBPNCB6GESYEZWI/ | title=Hawke's Bay's Brad Weber makes French debut in Parisian derby | work=[[Hawke's Bay Today]] | date=20 November 2023 | access-date=20 November 2023}}</ref> He scored his first two tries for the club on 14 September 2024 against {{Rut|Vannes}}.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://supersport.com/rugby/general/news/c65b7c3a-dc9a-4c4b-8cbc-e7d37139257d/ex-all-black-weber-guides-stade-francais-past-vannes-despite-late-comeback | title=Ex-All Black Weber guides Stade Francais past Vannes despite late comeback | website=supersport.com | date=15 September 2024 | access-date=17 September 2024}}</ref>
Weber had signed for three seasons with Stade Français, but his [[2024–25 Top 14 season|second season]] with the club was cut short due to a serious ankle injury that required surgery.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.rugbypass.com/news/season-likely-over-for-all-black-brad-weber-after-gruesome-injury/ | title=Season likely over for All Black Brad Weber after gruesome injury | work=Rugbypass | date=17 February 2025 | access-date=3 January 2026}}</ref> Having not played at all during the first half of the [[2025–26 Top 14 season|2025–26 season]], Weber reached an agreement with Stade Français that allowed him to leave the club early, in December 2025, to take up an opportunity in Japan.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.rugbyrama.fr/2025/12/04/transferts-top-14-info-midol-stade-francais-brad-weber-vers-un-depart-immediat-au-japon-13090526.php | title=Transferts. Top 14 – Info Midol. Stade français : Brad Weber vers un départ immédiat au Japon | trans-title=Transfers. Top 14 – Midol News. Stade Français: Brad Weber set for an immediate move to Japan | language=French | work=Midi Olympique | date=4 December 2025 | access-date=3 January 2026}}</ref>
On 18 December 2025, [[Japan Rugby League One]] club [[Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars]] announced that Weber would join the club.<ref name="Brad Weber joins Mitsubishi DynaBoars">{{cite web | url=https://www.mhi.com/jp/company/sports/dynaboars/news/20251218.html | title=ブラッド・ウェバー選手加入のお知らせ | trans-title=Brad Weber joins the team | language=Japanese | work=Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars | date=18 December 2025 | access-date=3 January 2026}}</ref> He played his first game for the side on 10 January 2026 in the round 4 game against [[Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo|Toshiba Brave Lupus]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.mhi.com/jp/company/sports/dynaboars/2526r4 | title=NTTジャパンラグビー リーグワン2025-26 第4節 – 東芝ブレイブルーパス東京 対 三菱重工相模原ダイナボアーズ | trans-title=NTT Japan Rugby League One 2025-26 Round 4 – Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo vs Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Sagamihara DynaBoars | language=Japanese | work=Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars | date=8 January 2026 | access-date=11 January 2026}}</ref>
==International career== Weber was a member of the [[New Zealand national under-20 rugby union team|New Zealand Under 20]] side that won the [[2011 IRB Junior World Championship]] in [[Italy]]. He largely served as back up to [[TJ Perenara]] during the competition.<ref name="Brad Weber IRB JWC 2011 Player Profile">{{cite web | url=http://it.irb.com/jwc/teams/team=3219/player=43517/index.html | title=Brad Weber Player Profile | department=JWC 2011 | work=IRB | access-date=24 February 2014 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140228225523/http://it.irb.com/jwc/teams/team%3D3219/player%3D43517/index.html | archive-date=28 February 2014}}</ref>
Weber made his [[All Blacks]] debut against [[Samoa]] on 8 July 2015.<ref name="Brad Weber All Blacks Debut">{{cite web | url=https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/278281/all-blacks-have-narrow-win-over-samoa-in-apia | title=All Blacks have narrow win over Samoa in Apia | date=8 July 2015 | work=[[Radio New Zealand]] | access-date=13 October 2015}}</ref> On 2 October 2019, during the [[2019 Rugby World Cup]] in Japan, Weber scored his first international try in a pool match against Canada. He scored a second in the same match.<ref name="Barrett boys make try-scoring history as All Blacks sink Canada">{{cite web | url=https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/news/494603 | title=Barrett boys make try-scoring history as All Blacks sink Canada | work=World Rugby | date=2 October 2019 | access-date=16 July 2023}}</ref>
On 1 November 2025, Weber played for the [[Barbarian F.C.|Barbarians]] against the [[All Blacks XV]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.barbarianfc.co.uk/news/lam-names-his-barbarians-to-face-ab-xv/ | title=Lam names his Barbarians to face AB XV | work=Barbarian F.C. | date=29 October 2025 | access-date=3 January 2026}}</ref>
==Personal life== Weber is a New Zealander of [[Ngāti Porou]] descent and stated in an interview that he wants to be an inspiration to those who are of [[Māori people|Māori]] descent, but who feel they do not look Māori, to seek out their origins ([[Whakapapa]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://npec.co.nz/wp/2015/06/30/5-players-from-ngati-porou-named-in-maori-all-blacks/|title=5 players from Ngāti Porou named in "Maori All Blacks"|website= Ngāti Porou East Coast|date=30 June 2015|access-date=22 February 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/sport/2022/07/rugby-m-ori-all-blacks-halfback-brad-weber-hopes-to-inspire-those-who-don-t-look-m-ori-to-explore-their-whakapapa.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240222113343/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/sport/2022/07/rugby-m-ori-all-blacks-halfback-brad-weber-hopes-to-inspire-those-who-don-t-look-m-ori-to-explore-their-whakapapa.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 February 2024|title=Rugby: Māori All Blacks halfback Brad Weber hopes to inspire those who 'don't look Māori' to explore their whakapapa|website=[[Newshub]] |date=13 July 2022|access-date=22 February 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/300808019/all-black-brad-weber-reveals-his-reluctance-to-lead-mori-all-blacks|title=All Black Brad Weber reveals his reluctance to lead Māori All Blacks|website=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |date=19 February 2023|access-date=22 February 2024}}</ref>
==Honours== {{incomplete list|date=October 2023}} '''New Zealand''' * [[Rugby World Cup]] / [[Webb Ellis Cup]] **Third-place: [[2019 Rugby World Cup|2019]]
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{sport links}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20230716085315/http://stats.allblacks.com/asp/profile.asp?ABID=1140 Brad Weber All Blacks profile] * [https://www.rugbyhistory.co.nz/player/brad-mccormick-weber NZ Rugby History profile] * [https://www.rugbydatabase.co.nz/player/index.php?playerId=41 Rugby Database profile] * [https://all.rugby/player/brad-weber All Rugby profile]
{{Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars squad}} {{New Zealand Squad 2019 Rugby World Cup}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Weber, Brad}} [[Category:New Zealand rugby union players]] [[Category:New Zealand international rugby union players]] [[Category:Rugby union scrum-halves]] [[Category:Otago rugby union players]] [[Category:Waikato rugby union players]] [[Category:Chiefs (Super Rugby) players]] [[Category:1991 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Ngāti Porou people]] [[Category:Rugby union players from Napier, New Zealand]] [[Category:People educated at Napier Boys' High School]] [[Category:Māori All Blacks players]] [[Category:Hawke's Bay rugby union players]] [[Category:2019 Rugby World Cup players]] [[Category:Stade Français players]] [[Category:New Zealand expatriate rugby union players in France]] [[Category:21st-century New Zealand sportsmen]] [[Category:Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars players]]