Rugby: Ironman Messam just loves playing footy

Liam Messam faces a big year but is approaching it one rugby campaign at a time. Photo / Getty Images

Liam Messam can offer a succinct summary to explain his ironman-like abilities - he simply loves playing footy.

Messam will return from injury to lead the Chiefs in their must-win match against the Reds in Brisbane tonight, having missed more Super Rugby games this season than the previous six campaigns combined.

His absence in last week's loss to the Highlanders was due to his health, with two previous weeks off courtesy of the All Blacks' rest requirements.

After leading the Chiefs in their quest for a third title, Messam will turn his attentions to an international campaign culminating in England. And following the Rugby World Cup, the loose forward has been linked to a short-term contract in Japan and a tilt at sevens gold in Brazil.

Messam was non-committal to those 2016 excursions when quizzed before travelling to Brisbane but acknowledged the balancing act he faced for the rest of this year.

"I just love playing footy and love playing for this team," he said. "But sometimes, since it's a big year, you've got to step away and look at the bigger picture."

That meant resting an old injury and watching on helplessly as the Chiefs last week lost their third match in four games. The break allowed him the chance to arrange his short-term future, with suggestions he has signed an off-season contract with Toshiba to play in Japan after the RWC.

"I hope I have - I don't know," Messam said. "That's the media, things pop up. I'm still working through the future. It's a massive year this year so I'm just focusing one campaign at a time."

As for the Olympics, Messam has told the Chiefs of his interest in playing sevens, but the 31-year-old said there were still hurdles to clear before he could confirm a return to the format that provided his break.

"It's still an option. I can't say too much. It's still got a place in my heart - I have a lot to thank Titch [Gordon Tietjens] and Rushy [Eric Rush] for, they brought me up as a 16-year-old. There's still a place in my heart for sevens so we've just got to see what happens next year."