Three-time Olympian Joe Webber thought his days with the All Blacks Sevens were behind him, as current and former HSBC SVNS Series players celebrated one of the most decorated careers in the sport’s history midway through last season.

New Zealand Sevens thanked Webber on social media in mid-February, drawing the curtain on an illustrious 15-year All Blacks Sevens career. The veteran won five SVNS World Series titles, is a two-time Commonwealth Games medallist, and claimed silver at the Tokyo Games.

Two-time Olympic gold medallist Sarah Hirini, All Blacks Sevens great DJ Forbes, and former All Blacks winger Charles Piutau were among the many who commented on the post, congratulating Webber on a mighty shift in the black jersey.

VIDEO

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by NZ Sevens (@nzsevens)

The door seemed closed, and it appeared that a chapter in All Blacks Sevens history had been written in full, but nine months later, Webber was back in black, taking on SVNS Series rivals from Australia, Samoa and Fiji.

“It wasn’t actually my decision,” Webber told RugbyPass. The coach at the time Tomasi [Cama], I think he sort of retired me but I didn’t say I wanted to retire. I just didn’t get recontracted at the end of last year.”

But the chance to suit up in the Bay of Plenty’s famous blue and gold hoops, and a change of All Blacks Sevens head coach, brought an end to a fairly brief retirement. Steamers coach Richard Watt reached out before the NPC season, with Webber keen to lace up the boots again.

Webber had gotten into teaching but ended up making six appearances for the Steamers during the provincial campaign, lining up on either the wing or at inside centre. The 33-year-old finished the regular season with a double against North Harbour on October 4.

Meanwhile, the All Blacks Sevens were preparing to usher in a new era, with Willie Rickards taking over from Tomasi Cama as head coach. Rickards is joined in the coaching group by former captain Scott Curry and All Blacks great Liam Messam.

“I was still keen,” Webber added.

“I thought I could still give maybe another year or two but once Tomasi told me I wasn’t getting the contract, I thought, ‘I had a good run so that’s me done.’

“Grateful as that Willie still saw the value in having me here and giving me another shot to play and hopefully add a bit of value to the group.”

It’s been about nine months since New Zealand Sevens and others congratulated Webber on an all-time career, and a lot has happened between then and now. But it was all ultimately leading to a headline-grabbing return in some heavyweight sevens bouts in recent weeks.

Webber was named in the All Blacks Sevens squad for the Mount Manganui Sevens and Ignite7 tournament. The 14-man list took the field at Tauranga’s Blake Park on October 31 and November 1, before suturing up again the next weekend.

“They’re giving me a bit of sh**. It did feel a bit weird coming back after doing a big farewell and all that sort of stuff, a few videos on social media announcing it,” Webber said.

“It feels a bit weird but I’m excited. The boys have been wicked so it’s cool. I’m loving it.”

Webber explained: “I was grateful as for the NPC, the Steamers season, it just put me in good shape heading into these tournaments. I actually felt good.

“Fitness is good. I didn’t really feel like I hadn’t played in about a year and a half.

“I was actually pretty happy with how I went. The body felt good, the lungs felt all good and I got through 12 games. Really confident going into starting the Series that I can still handle those big minutes and six games a weekend.”

Webber has committed to a one-year deal with the program but is still just taking it tournament by tournament, with the season-opener in Dubai just a couple of weeks away. It’s a crucial season ahead for the All Blacks Sevens, with the 2026/27 SVNS Series an Olympic-qualifying campaign.

The list of three-time sevens Olympians is fairly exclusive, with Webber joined in that club by the likes of Henry Hutchison from Australia and Fiji’s Jerry Tuwai. New Zealand took home silver from the postponed Tokyo Games, but Olympic gold has so far remained out of reach.

“I just genuinely love the game of sevens. I love playing it. As soon as I was meant to finish at the end of last year, I was straight back into club sevens.

“Just that gold medal, bro. The Olympics. I’ve been to three Olympics and we haven’t come away with the gold so that’s just always a deep, deep desire.

“If I’m there or if I’m not, this team, man, this team deserves a gold medal at the Olympics. I’ll just be doing everything I can for me or for the team to hopefully get that gold in LA.”