4 Mar 2016

Messam named in Las Vegas squad

11:05 am on 4 March 2016

The World Cup winning All Black Liam Messam has been named in the New Zealand Rugby Sevens squad for this weekend's World Series round in Las Vegas.

Liam Messam and Sonny Bill Williams celebrate winning the World Cup 2015.

Liam Messam and Sonny Bill Williams celebrate winning the World Cup 2015. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Messam will pull on the All Black Sevens jersey for the first time since helping New Zealand win gold at the Commonwealth Games in 2010.

Counties Manukau team-mates Josh van Lieshout and Sione Molia will make their sevens debuts in Las Vegas.

The two were selected for the squad last month after impressing coach Gordon Tietjens at the National Sevens where Counties Manukau won the national title.

Tietjens said he had also chosen to rest Sonny Bill Williams following two pleasing performances at Wellington Sevens and Sydney Sevens.

The team is;

Kurt Baker (Taranaki)

Dylan Collier (Waikato)

Sam Dickson (Canterbury)

DJ Forbes (Counties Manukau)

Gillies Kaka (Hawke's Bay)

Josh Van Lieshout* (Counties Manukau)

Liam Messam (Waikato)

Tim Mikkelson (Captain) (Waikato)

Sione Molia* (Counties Manukau)

Lewis Ormond (Taranaki)

Beaudein Waaka (Taranaki)

Regan Ware (Waikato)

*new caps

The All Blacks Sevens have been drawn in Pool A after winning the recent Sydney Sevens and will face Kenya, Portugal and Russia. New Zealand is currently jointly leading the series, tied on 69 points with Fiji and South Africa.

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