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)[1]
SchoolRotorua Boys' High School
Notable relative(s)Sam Messam (brother)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Blindside Flanker, Number 8
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2005–2016 Hautapu RFC ()
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2015–2018 Toshiba Brave Lupus 26 (15)
2018–2020 Toulon 38 (25)
Correct as of 11 May 2021
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
2003– Waikato 104 (148)
Correct as of 15 September 2022
Super Rugby
Years Team Apps (Points)
2006–15, 17–18, 21– Chiefs 184 (160)
Correct as of 11 May 2021
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2008–2015 New Zealand 43 (30)
Correct as of 11 May 2021
National sevens team(s)
Years Team Comps
New Zealand 21
Correct as of 11 May 2021
Boxing career
Statistics
Weight classHeavyweight
Height190 cm (6 ft 3 in)
Boxing record[2]
Total fights5
Wins5
Wins by KO1
Losses0
Draws0
Medal record
Men's rugby sevens
Representing  New Zealand
Commonwealth Games
Gold medal – first place 2006 Melbourne Team competition
Gold medal – first place 2010 Delhi Team competition

He is also a professional boxer.

Rugby career

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.

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 Rio Olympics 2016. Messam was later named in the All Black Sevens' squad for the Wellington Sevens alongside All Blacks teammate, Sonny Bill Williams. After the Rio Olympics 2016, Messam played for the Chiefs in 2012 Super Rugby season, when injuries greatly affected the loose forward's positions.

Leading of the Haka

Of the 43 tests he played in Messam was the haka leader in 21 of them. He led the Ka Mate version of the haka nine times; as well as the newer Kapa o Pango haka, twelve times (the third highest number led).

Professional boxing career

Messam made his professional boxing debut in January 2015 against Rhys Sullivan on a Sonny Bill Williams undercard.[5] Messam won the fight by unanimous decision.[6] Messam returned to the ring six years later to fight in a professional fight for charity to raise funds for Tauranga 8-year-old Antonio Pohatu-Barbarich who is being treated for brain cancer.[7][8] Messam took on Joe Ageli in his return fight in April 2021, winning by unanimous decision. Since returning to professional boxing, he has started training with Hit Fitness HQ under retired professional boxing, Cairo George. In the same camp is Olympic Bronze medalist David Nyika.[9] Messam returned one year later in New Plymouth, taking on Thomas Russell.[10] Messam won his third professional fight by unanimous decision. After a charity fight under Fight for Life, Messam returned to the professional ring in July 2022 against Tussi Asafo.[11] Messam won his first win by stoppage. In December, Messam finished his 2022 boxing year by taking on Mathew Matich.[12] Messam won the fight by Unanimous Decision.

Record
5 fights 5 wins 0 losses
By knockout 1 0
By decision 4 0
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
5 Win 5–0 Mathew Matich UD 4 Dec 3, 2022 Grassroots Trust Velodrome, Cambridge, New Zealand
4 Win 4–0 Tussi Asafo TKO 2 (4) Jul 30, 2022 YMCA Stadium, Hamilton, New Zealand
3 Win 3–0 Thomas Russell UD 4 May 13, 2022 TSB Stadium, New Plymouth, New Zealand
2 Win 2–0 Joe Ageli UD 4 Apr 17, 2021 Don Rowlands Event Centre, Lake Karapiro, New Zealand
1 Win 1–0 Rhys Sullivan UD 4 Jan 31, 2015 Qudos Bank Arena, New South Wales, Australia

Personal life

Messam's brother, Sam Messam, played in the All Whites side at the 2008 London Olympics.[13]

Throughout his professional athlete career, Messam developed a preference for natural alternative health options to relieve both physical pain and mental challenges high-profile athletes experience. After witnessing the detrimental effect conventional pain relief and mental health medication has on close friends and family, Messam founded Ora CBD alongside Teddy Stanaway in 2020.

Maori

Of Māori descent, Messam affiliates to the Ngāi Tūhoe iwi.[14] Messam has stated that he also has Samoan and Scottish heritage.[15][16] 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.[17][18]

References
  1. "Liam Messam #1082". Match stats. New Zealand Rugby. n.d. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  2. "Boxing record for Liam Messam". BoxRec.
  3. "Rugby World Cup 2011: All Blacks pick Vito, omit Sivivatu & Gear". BBC. 23 August 2011. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
  4. "Sam Messam". Athlete profile. New Zealand Commonwealth Games.
  5. "All Blacks star Liam Messam says playing Wallabies easier than fighting winless boxer Rhys Sullivan". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  6. "Collateral damage in All Black Liam Messam's hard-fought win over Rhys Sullivan". Stuff NZ. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  7. "Liam Messam back with Chiefs, fighting, literally, for nephew's brain tumour". Stuff NZ. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  8. "Tokoroa principal's journey to fighting fit". Stuff NZ. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  9. "Former All Blacks Carlos Spencer and Liam Messam to appear on Fight for Life bill". Stuff NZ. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  10. "Covid-19 knocked back New Plymouth fight night, making it 'the best'". Stuff NZ. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  11. "Fight For Life: Former league star Paul Whatuira stuns ex-All Black Carlos Spencer". Stuff NZ. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  12. "Revealed — the 46 boxers who'll go glove-to-glove in the Battle of the Bridge". Hautapu Sports. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  13. "An All Black day dawns for our Liam Messam". NZ Herald. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  14. "43 Māori athletes to head to Rio Olympics". Te Karere. 5 August 2016. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
  15. @LiamMessam (17 September 2011). "@dylanhobson2 samoan Maori and Scottish fruit salad" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  16. Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "Liam Messam 'My World' on Fresh". YouTube.
  17. "Ray Watson, Liam Messam winners at Rugby Awards". Rotorua Daily Post. APN Holdings. 14 December 2012. Retrieved 3 April 2013.
  18. McKendry, Patrick (5 December 2013). "Read, All Blacks, Hansen scoop top NZ rugby awards". NZ Herald. APN Holdings. Retrieved 5 December 2013.
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