Former All Black Brad Weber returns from gruesome injury for Barbarians against All Blacks XV

Friday, 31 October 2025

Former All Blacks halfback Brad Weber will play his first match in almost nine months against the All Blacks XV after recovering from a dislocated ankle.

Weber has been included in Pat Lam’s Barbarians team to face Jamie Joseph’s All Blacks XV side in London on Sunday morning (NZ time).

The 34-year-old suffered a gruesome injury to his lower right leg in February while playing for his French club Stade Francais in the Top 14.

Diving to make a tackle, the 18-test All Black was trapped underneath a pile of bodies in a ruck and dislocated his ankle.

“Super weird seeing your foot twisted 180° staring back at ya,” Weber said on social media in February.

“Don't get injured often, but when I do, I do it properly,” he added.

Weber’s other major injury was a broken femur he sustained at the Brisbane Tens in 2017.

The former Chiefs halfback hasn’t played since February but is poised to return via the bench against some old team-mates in London.

He is the sole Kiwi in a Baabaas team dominated by 16 South Africans and might come face to face with ex-Chiefs team-mate Xavier Roe.

Roe is starting for the All Blacks XV at halfback.

“I was hoping [Weber] was starting when I heard I got the spot in the nine jersey. I’m looking forward to catching up and hopefully I’m on the field when he is,” Roe said from London.

A Chiefs centurion who played for his home province Hawke’s Bay, Weber left for France in 2023 and has made 35 appearances for glamour Paris club Stade Francais.

His last representative appearance in black was for the All Blacks XV against Japan in 2023. Weber’s final All Blacks test came against Wales in Cardiff in 2022.

All Blacks XV v Barbarians

All Blacks XV: Jacob Ratumatavuki-Kneepkens, Caleb Tangitau, Daniel Rona, David Havili, Etene Nanai-Seturo, Josh Jacomb, Xavier Roe; Devan Flanders, Dalton Papali’i (capt), Kaylum Boshier, Caleb Delany, Josh Beehre, George Dyer, Jack Taylor, Xavier Numia. Reserves: Bradley Slater, Josh Fusitua, Siale Lauaki, Jamie Hannah, Sean Withy, Kyle Preston, Rivez Reihana, Braydon Ennor.

Barbarians: Max Mallins, Werner Kok, Matias Moroni, Benhard Janse van Rensburg, Leolin Zas, Rob du Preez, Rhodri Williams; Evan Roos, Fitz Harding, Hanro Liebenberg (capt), Ruben van Heerden, Ernest van Ryhn, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Bongi Mbonambi, Oli Kebble. Reserves: Andre-Hugo Venter, Alistair Vermaak, Jack Aungier, Cobus Wiese, Batho Hlekani, Brad Weber, Dan du Plessis, Rhyno Smith.

All Blacks XV schedule

Sunday, November 2: v Barbarians, Gtech Community Stadium, Brentford, kickoff 2.15am NZT.

Sunday, November 9: v England A, The Recreational Ground, Bath, kickoff 2.15am NZT

Sunday, November 16: v Uruguay, Stade Raoul Barrière, France, kickoff 4am NZT.