Stade Francais’ nine new signings include All Black Brad Weber

Stade Francais have included All Blacks scrum-half Brad Weber in its nine-strong list of new signings for the 2023/24 Top 14 season. It was May 18 when the 32-year-old revealed he would be quitting the Chiefs and life in the Super Rugby Pacific tournament for a move to a European club and his destination has now been confirmed.

A Stade Francais tweet read: “17 caps in the jersey of the All Blacks, nine seasons with the province of Waikato. The conductor and experienced co-captain of the Chiefs will be in charge next season.”

It was last month that Weber said in a statement: “It is with a heavy heart that I confirm that this season will be my last at the Chiefs, a team that has meant so much to me and my family over the past 10 years.”

The signing of Weber emerged on Tuesday evening French time when Stade revealed its raft of new signings via their social media channels. The list read: Hugo N’Diaye (Rouen), Tanginoa Halaifonua (Grenoble), Andy Timo (Massy), Weber (Chiefs), Jules Gimbert (Bordeaux), Hugo Zabalza (Vannes), Zack Henry (Pau), Joe Marchant (Harlequins) and Pierre Boudenhent (La Rochelle).

Stade, whose 2022/23 Top 14 campaign ended with a play-off defeat to Parisian rivals Racing last Saturday, had begun the week by confirming its list of 13 players who will leave along with coach Gonzalo Quesada and assistant Laurent Sempere.

That full list read: Arthur Coville (Provence), Alex Arrate, Jame Hall (Racing), Marcis Kremer (Clermont), Sione Tui (Provence), Telusa Veainu (Sale), Harry Glover, Nemo Roelofse (Perpignan), Morgan Parra (Stade Francais coaching staff), Theo Dachary, Vincent Koch, Paolo Odogwu, Sitaleki Timani.