Liam Messam
| File:Liam Messam at fundraiser dinner.jpeg Messam in 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | Liam Justin Messam 25 March 1984 Blenheim, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Height | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 109 kg (240 lb)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Rotorua Boys' High School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notable relative | Sam Messam (brother) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Boxing career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 190 cm (6 ft 3 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight class | Heavyweight | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Boxing record[2] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total fights | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wins | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Win by KO | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Losses | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draws | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Liam Justin Messam (born 25 March 1984) is a retired New Zealand rugby union player who played in the 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.
He is also a professional boxer.
Rugby career
[edit | edit source]National team
[edit | edit source]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
[edit | edit source]This section of a biography of a living person does not include any references or sources. (August 2023) |
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
[edit | edit source]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).[citation needed]
Professional boxing career
[edit | edit source]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
[edit | edit source]| 7 fights | 7 wins | 0 losses |
|---|---|---|
| By knockout | 1 | 0 |
| By decision | 6 | 0 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Win | 7–0 | Darryl Takerei | UD | 4 | May 25, 2024 | TSB Stadium, New Plymouth, New Zealand | |
| 6 | Win | 6–0 | Kyle Mereweather | UD | 4 | Nov 23, 2023 | YMCA Stadium, Hamilton, New Zealand | |
| 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
[edit | edit source]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.[citation needed]
Maori
[edit | edit source]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
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External links
[edit | edit source]- Liam Messam at the World Rugby Men's Sevens Series (archived)
- Liam Messam at the All Blacks (archived)
- Chiefs profile at the Wayback Machine (archived 23 January 2008)
- Profile on Waikato Rugby Union site at the Wayback Machine (archived 12 March 2007)
- Liam Messam at ItsRugby.co.ukLua error in Module:WikidataCheck at line 29: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
- Liam Messam at the Commonwealth Games Federation (archived)Lua error in Module:EditAtWikidata at line 29: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).Lua error in Module:WikidataCheck at line 29: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
- 1984 births
- New Zealand rugby union players
- Māori All Blacks players
- New Zealand international rugby union players
- Chiefs (Super Rugby) players
- Waikato rugby union players
- Commonwealth Games gold medallists for New Zealand
- Rugby sevens players at the 2006 Commonwealth Games
- New Zealand male rugby sevens players
- Rugby union flankers
- Rugby union number eights
- Rugby union players from Blenheim, New Zealand
- People educated at Rotorua Boys' High School
- Living people
- New Zealand international rugby sevens players
- Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo players
- New Zealand expatriate rugby union players in Japan
- Commonwealth Games rugby sevens players for New Zealand
- Rugby sevens players at the 2010 Commonwealth Games
- Ngāi Tūhoe people
- Commonwealth Games gold medallists in rugby sevens
- RC Toulon players
- Medallists at the 2006 Commonwealth Games
- Medallists at the 2010 Commonwealth Games
- 2015 Rugby World Cup players
- New Zealand expatriate rugby union players in France
- 21st-century New Zealand sportsmen