Rugby: Messam to make Chiefs return at Global Tens

Liam Messam. Photo / Getty Images.

Liam Messam's return to the Chiefs will come ahead of next season's Super Rugby competition.

The Chiefs confirmed today that Messam will be in their squad for the Brisbane Global Tens tournament early next year.

Messam, a 43-test All Black, is the most-capped player in Chiefs history with 146 appearances, and is also a double Commonwealth Games rugby Sevens gold medalist.

He has been playing in Japan since leaving the Chiefs but has signed to return to the Hamilton-based franchise.

Meanwhile, the Brumbies have nominated Wallabies winger Henry Speight as their wildcard.

Fijian-born Speight has been capped 10 times by the Wallabies since making his debut in 2014.

Along with Messam and Speight, promoters are also pumping up the appearance of former Wallaby fullback Chris Latham who will play for the Queensland Reds.

Teams can use a 'wildcard' to bolster their squad with a drawcard player, in this instance Latham.

Reds coach Nick Stiles selected Latham, who turned out for Queensland 117 times and is the second highest tryscorer in Wallaby history behind David Campese, as his wildcard pick.

"One of the great concepts with this 10-a-side tournament is you can bring in a marquee - a former player - and Chris Latham loved playing in front of his Queensland fans," Stiles said.

"He was an exciting footballer and he's still in great shape. He'll make a genuine impact for us and I'm sure the Queensland public will get right behind him and be rapt to see him in a Reds jersey again."

The trio of Speight, Messam and Latham add to the growing list of top players confirmed for the two-day tournament at Suncorp Stadium on February 11-12 next year.

Israel Folau, Israel Dagg, Jerome Kaino, Karmichael Hunt, Taniela Tupou, Loni Uhila and Rene Ranger will all play in the tournament.

The 10 professional Super Rugby franchises from Australia and New Zealand as well as French powerhouse club Toulon, Japan's Panasonic Wild Knights, South Africa's Blue Bulls and the Samoan international team have all entered.