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Brad Weber relives career-altering 'kick up the ass' from Tony Brown

(Photo by Charly Triballeau/AFP via Getty Images)

Brad Weber’s story is one of rugby’s best, being the third generation of Weber to wear the Hawkes Bay No. 9 jersey, going on to represent the All Blacks and winning a Rugby World Cup bronze medal. It’s the stuff of rugby legend, especially for his hometown.

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Any visitors to the Weber household during the new Stade Francais recruit’s childhood may well have found Brad parked up in front of the TV, watching a VHS tape of the Magpies’ 1993 win over the British and Irish Lions – a game Weber’s father featured in, even scoring a try.

Weber’s journey to international rugby is a true reflection of the underdog mentality in his blood. Leaving his home province to attend Otago University, Weber landed an opportunity with Otago’s NPC team, an opportunity that was short-lived.

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“So it was 2013 I think, Tony Brown was the head coach of Otago at the time and he brought me in and said that they’re dropping me from the Otago squad,” Weber told the All Blacks Podcast. “I wasn’t going to be in the squad that year and he laid out his reasons why.

“A lot of it was that he basically didn’t see me work on my game outside of the trainings that were prescribed by the trainers and coaches; that I wasn’t getting significantly better because of that.

“Looking back – obviously I was devasted at the time – but I think at the time I was really naive, thinking that just through getting older and just by doing the training what the trainers and the coaches had prescribed to you, that that’s going to be enough to get better. But it wasn’t.

“I’m really, really grateful to Brownie for doing that and making me realise that, and I remember thinking from that moment on that I’ll never allow a coach to say that Brab Weber doesn’t work hard at his game.

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“It was a huge moment for me and the kick up the ass I needed because I’m not the most talented guy. I was never a gun at school, so I actually have to squeeze every bit of talent out of me, actually working for it and Brownie made me realise that.

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“From that moment on I worked my ass off to be a better rugby player and work on my game and so when I got an opportunity a few months later with Waikato halfway through the season, I just remember thinking, I’m not going to let this chance go. And because of the work that I’d done since that moment that Brownie dropped me, I finished the season with some of the best few games that I’ve had.

“I think it was about two weeks in, I had a real good game against Auckland and then Dave Rennie was around at my house the next day offering me a Chiefs contract.

“So, within two weeks I’d gone from playing Otago development, the B team, to getting a Super Rugby contract with the Chiefs – probably because of the kick up the ass that I got. I wish I wouldn’t have needed that and I was lucky I got another opportunity.

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“I really tried to turn that disappointment into a positive and then the rest is history like they say.

“But from that moment on, even through my Chiefs career and All Blacks career, I’ve tried to work my butt off to make the most of any opportunities that I’ve got.”

In his three-year Waikato career, Weber would go on to captain the side and win them the Ranfurly Shield in a game against his beloved Hawkes Bay. The following season, in 2016, he followed in his father’s and grandfather’s footsteps by donning the Magpies kit where he has since racked up 50 caps.

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R
RedWarrior 1 hour ago
Three-way race to be number one in World Rugby men's rankings

IF SA and NZ win then its 1,2,3 SA/NZ/IRL Otherwise as you were. This is largely irrelevant beyond bragging rights.


As I have pointed out elsewhere the practical use of the Rankings is to determine the seedings bands for the RWC draw. The draw takes place early 2026 and hopefully the rankings will be taken from then.


Important to be in the top 6, the top 12. (and likely the top 4).

This is because there are now 6 groups in the RWC 2027.

If you are in top 6 you are in Seeding Band 1. That means none of the other top 6 will be in your group.

Seeding Band 2 are teams from 7-12, who will have a top 6 team but no other 7-12 team.

After England's defeat by NZ there is clear water between NZ in 3rd, France in 4th and England in 5th. England are desperate for top4, ill come back and explain why later.

Lets look at Seeding Band 1 and 6th place. If you make 6th, no top 6 team is in your group, you are top dog. If you win your group, you won't be facing a top 6 team in your 1/8th final, you will be facing a weaker team. If you fail to make 6th place you WILL have a top 6 team in your group and if you don't win your group you WILL (probably) meet a top 6 in the 1/8 final. That's massive.


Its Argentina holding 6th now. Assuming England hold 5th, then its a 4 horse race for 6th. Argentina, Scotland, Italy and ...Australia. (ranked 6,7,8,9)

Australia play the Lions in NH summer 2025 they are running out of time to get up to 6th for their own RWC. They MUST make a move now. They must beat Wales and they really must beat Scotland to gain points and take points off them. Could they surprise England or Ireland? England may be the better bet but Schmidt knows Ireland so well having masterminded their downfall in France.

Another one to watch is Italy V Argentina. Italy are ambitious and they will want to start pushing the likes of Argentina. If they win this they are still in the hunt. Well worth a watch either way.


Top4: I think the top 6 will be seeded, all the way through from the draw. If thats the case then the top 4 will be seeded to avoid each other until the semi. Good for more certainty around ticket sales etc. That's a possible reason why England want in there. You're not in there you are hitting a top 4 team in a QF. That's an extra 50:50 match you can do without and avoid by being top 4.


Lets look at what Seeding bands might look like with todays rankings:


Seeding Band 1

IRE/SA/NZ/FRA/ENG/ARG

Seeding Band 2

SCO/ITA/AUS/FIJ/WAL/GEO


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: FIJI

1/8 final opponent GEORGIA

Prognosis: advance to 1/4 and potentially beyond


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if NOT in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: SOUTH AFRICA

1/8 final opponent NEW ZEALAND

Prognosis: You know the prognosis


I am pretty sure this is not lost on Joe Schmidt?


Keep in mind when enjoying the matches.

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