Liam Messam

As a skilled ball-runner and abrasive loose forward Liam Messam has had a massive workload over the last few seasons, his form earning him the Tom French Memorial Trophy for Maori Player of the Year in 2013.

Persistence and hard work paid off for Messam, who had limited opportunities in his first five seasons, earning just nine Tests heading into 2012, despite frequently being named in All Blacks squads. However, opportunity presented itself and Messam was determined to make the most of it. He has now amased 45 Test caps since his debut in 2008, many in the number six jersey, where his speed and committed defence have proved invaluable.

He had an action-packed and varied 2010 as a member of New Zealand’s Commonwealth Games Sevens team in Delhi (as well as a gold medal-winner in Melbourne in 2006), and like Hosea Gear, also a member – and captain – of the New Zealand Maori team.

He has a huge physical presence around the park, whether in possession or on defence and is versatile enough to play all three loose forward positions.

He is served well by his Sevens skills, often linking well with his backs or getting over the tryline himself.