Brad Weber Ruled Out for Season with Ankle Fracture
(Paris, France) – As previously reported by Le Figaro, Brad Weber, the New Zealand scrum-half for Stade Français, will miss the remainder of the season due to an ankle fracture sustained during last Saturday’s match against Section Paloise.
The 30-year-old Weber, who has earned 18 caps for the All Blacks, underwent successful surgery on Monday. With Jules Gimbert on loan at Nice, the Parisians are left with only Louis Foursans-Bourdette (23), Thibaut Motassi (20), and Martin Blum (18) as options at scrum-half.
Stade Français immediately began the search for a medical joker to fill the void left by Weber’s absence. On Tuesday, the club announced that Paul Abadie, a 30-year-old scrum-half from UBB, would be joining the team until the end of the season.
Abadie has made just one appearance for UBB this season, playing for 16 minutes against Montpellier. However, he was a regular feature in the team last season, making 22 appearances, including 9 starts.
Implications for Stade Français
Weber’s injury is a significant blow to Stade Français’ hopes of success this season. The former All Black has been a key figure for the Parisians since joining the club in 2020, contributing to their run to the Top 14 semi-finals last season.
The loss of Weber puts pressure on the young and inexperienced shoulders of Foursans-Bourdette, Motassi, and Blum. While Foursans-Bourdette has shown promise, he has yet to establish himself as a consistent performer at the highest level. Motassi and Blum, meanwhile, are still untested in competitive rugby.
Arrival of Paul Abadie
The arrival of Paul Abadie provides some much-needed experience and stability to the Stade Français scrum. Abadie is a well-respected figure in the Top 14, having made over 100 appearances for UBB since joining the club in 2014.
Although he has not featured regularly for UBB this season, Abadie remains a capable player who can bring a wealth of knowledge and leadership to the Stade Français squad. His arrival will be a welcome boost for the Parisians as they look to navigate the remainder of the season without their star scrum-half.
Conclusion
Brad Weber’s injury is a major setback for Stade Français, who will miss his experience and quality in the crucial months ahead. The arrival of Paul Abadie helps to ease the blow, but it remains to be seen whether the Parisian club can overcome the loss of one of their key players and maintain their challenge for silverware.
