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Liam Messam

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Liam Messam
Birth nameLiam Justin Messam
Date of birth(1984-03-25)25 March 1984(age 40)
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)
SpouseMonique Corbett
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
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 fights7
Wins7
Wins by KO1
Losses0
Draws0
Medal record
Men'srugby sevens
RepresentingNew Zealand
Commonwealth Games
Gold medal – first place 2006 Melbourne Team competition
Gold medal – first place 2010 Delhi Team competition

Liam Justin Messam(born 25 March 1984) is a New Zealandrugby unionplayer who playsTOP14forRC Toulonnais.InSuper Rugby,he previously played for theChiefs,and forWaikatoin theITM Cup.Messam predominantly plays as ablindside flankerbut can fill in atNumber 8as well asopenside flanker.After the retirement of then Chiefs captainMils Muliaina,Messam was named the team's new co-captain from2012onwards, alongsideAaron Cruden.

He is also a professional boxer.

Rugby career

[edit]

National team

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In October 2008, Messam was selected inNew Zealand's end of year tour squad to tour Hong Kong and Europe. He played one test againstScotlandand one match againstMunster.He subsequently appeared several more times for New Zealand but was dropped a month out of the2011 Rugby World Cupin favour ofVictor 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 theNew Zealand sevens teamto 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 the2006 Commonwealth Gamesand2010 Commonwealth Games.[4]In 2004 he was also named New Zealand Sevens Player of the Year.

2015–present

[edit]

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 theRio 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 in2012 Super Rugby season,when injuries greatly affected the loose forward's positions.

Leading of the Haka

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Of the 43 tests he played in Messam was thehakaleader in 21 of them. He led theKa Mateversion of the haka nine times; as well as the newerKapa o Pangohaka, twelve times (the third highest number led).[citation needed]

Professional boxing career

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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 medalistDavid 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

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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

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Messam's brother,Sam Messam,played in theAll Whitesside 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 alongsideTeddy Stanawayin 2020.[citation needed]

Maori

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OfMāoridescent, Messam affiliates to theNgāi Tūhoeiwi.[14]Messam has stated that he also hasSamoanandScottishheritage.[15][16]He has played for theNew Zealand Maori,including during the2006 Churchill Cupand the 2010 centenary series, where he captained the side. In 2012 and 2013 Messam was awarded theTom French Cupas Māori Player of the Year.[17][18]

References

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  1. ^ab"Liam Messam #1082".Match stats.New Zealand Rugby.n.d.Retrieved13 August2023.
  2. ^"Boxing record for Liam Messam".BoxRec.
  3. ^"Rugby World Cup 2011: All Blacks pick Vito, omit Sivivatu & Gear".BBC.23 August 2011.Retrieved29 October2015.
  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.Retrieved3 December2022.
  6. ^"Collateral damage in All Black Liam Messam's hard-fought win over Rhys Sullivan".Stuff NZ.Retrieved3 December2022.
  7. ^"Liam Messam back with Chiefs, fighting, literally, for nephew's brain tumour".Stuff NZ.Retrieved3 December2022.
  8. ^"Tokoroa principal's journey to fighting fit".Stuff NZ.Retrieved3 December2022.
  9. ^"Former All Blacks Carlos Spencer and Liam Messam to appear on Fight for Life bill".Stuff NZ.Retrieved3 December2022.
  10. ^"Covid-19 knocked back New Plymouth fight night, making it 'the best'".Stuff NZ.Retrieved3 December2022.
  11. ^"Fight For Life: Former league star Paul Whatuira stuns ex-All Black Carlos Spencer".Stuff NZ.Retrieved3 December2022.
  12. ^"Revealed — the 46 boxers who'll go glove-to-glove in the Battle of the Bridge".Hautapu Sports.Retrieved3 December2022.
  13. ^"An All Black day dawns for our Liam Messam".NZ Herald.Retrieved3 December2022.
  14. ^"43 Māori athletes to head to Rio Olympics".Te Karere.5 August 2016.Retrieved6 August2016.
  15. ^@LiamMessam (17 September 2011)."@dylanhobson2 samoan Maori and Scottish fruit salad"(Tweet) – viaTwitter.
  16. ^Archived atGhostarchiveand theWayback 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.Retrieved3 April2013.
  18. ^McKendry, Patrick (5 December 2013)."Read, All Blacks, Hansen scoop top NZ rugby awards".NZ Herald.APN Holdings.Retrieved5 December2013.
[edit]
Awards
Preceded by Tom French Memorial
Māori rugby union player of the year
2012, 2013 		Succeeded by
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