Liam Messam

Liam Justin Messam (born 25 March 1984) is a New Zealand rugby union player who plays TOP14 for RC Toulonnais. In Super Rugby, he previously played for the Chiefs, and for Waikato in the ITM Cup. Messam predominantly plays as a blindside flanker but can fill in at Number 8 as well as openside flanker. After the retirement of then Chiefs captain Mils Muliaina, Messam was named the team's new co-captain from 2012 onwards, alongside Aaron Cruden.

Liam Messam
Birth nameLiam Justin Messam
Date of birth (1984-03-25) 25 March 1984
Place of birthBlenheim, New Zealand
Height1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)[1]
Weight109 kg (240 lb)[2]
SchoolRotorua Boys' High School
Rugby union career
Position(s) Number 8, Flanker
All Black No. 1082
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2005-2016 Hautapu RFC ()
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2015–2018 Toshiba Brave Lupus 16 (15)
2018- Toulon ()
Correct as of 15 January 2017
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
2003–15 Waikato 85 (148)
Correct as of 9 October 2015
Super Rugby
Years Team Apps (Points)
2006–15, 2017-18 Chiefs 179 (155)
Correct as of 18 March 2017
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2008–2015 New Zealand 43 (30)
Correct as of 9 October 2015
National sevens team(s)
Years Team Comps
New Zealand 21
Correct as of 14 March 2016
Medal record
Men's rugby sevens
Representing  New Zealand
Commonwealth Games
2006 Melbourne Team competition
2010 Delhi Team competition

National team

In October 2008, Messam was selected in New Zealand's end of year tour squad to tour Hong Kong and Europe. He played one test against Scotland and one match against Munster. He subsequently appeared several more times for New Zealand but was dropped a month out of the 2011 Rugby World Cup in favour of Victor Vito.[3] Since his debut in 2008 he won 40 test caps for the All Blacks.

In 2004, at the age of just 20, he captained the New Zealand sevens team to its fifth IRB Sevens World Series title and in 2005 led the team to the final. Messam also played in the New Zealand sevens teams that won gold at the 2006 Commonwealth Games and 2010 Commonwealth Games.[4] In 2004 he was also named New Zealand Sevens Player of the Year.

Maori

Of Māori descent, Messam affiliates to the Ngāi Tūhoe iwi.[5] Messam has stated that he also has Samoan and Scottish heritage.[6][7] He has played for the New Zealand Maori, including during the 2006 Churchill Cup and the 2010 centenary series, where he captained the side. In 2012 and 2013 Messam was awarded the Tom French Cup as Māori Player of the Year.[8][9]

On 31 January 2015, Messam fought on the undercard of close friend Sonny Bill Williams' boxing bout.

2015–present

Messam was selected for the 2015 Rugby World Cup as part of the All Blacks' 31-man squad. After the tournament was finished, Messam announced his intention to compete in rugby sevens for the 2016 Summer Olympics. Messam was later named in the All Black Sevens' squad for the Wellington Sevens alongside All Blacks teammate Sonny Bill Williams. After the Rio 2016 Summer Olympics, Liam Messam did play for the Chiefs in 2016 Super Rugby competition, when injuries greatly affected the loose forwards positions .

References
  1. http://stats.allblacks.com/asp/Profile.asp?ABID=1082
  2. http://stats.allblacks.com/asp/Profile.asp?ABID=1082
  3. "Rugby World Cup 2011: All Blacks pick Vito, omit Sivivatu & Gear". BBC. 23 August 2011. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
  4. Profile at the New Zealand Commonwealth Games website
  5. "43 Māori athletes to head to Rio Olympics". Te Karere. 5 August 2016. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
  6. https://twitter.com/liammessam/status/114865893846163456?lang=en
  7. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4R90hFOXIA
  8. "Ray Watson, Liam Messam winners at Rugby Awards". Rotorua Daily Post. APN Holdings. 14 December 2012. Retrieved 3 April 2013.
  9. McKendry, Patrick (5 December 2013). "Read, All Blacks, Hansen scoop top NZ rugby awards". NZ Herald. APN Holdings. Retrieved 5 December 2013.

Liam Mesam's brother played in the 2012 All Whites side at the 2012 London Olympics.

Awards
Preceded by
Piri Weepu		 Tom French Memorial
Māori rugby union player of the year
2012, 2013		 Succeeded by
Aaron Smith
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