Liam Messam

Rugby greats Carlos Spencer and Liam Messam will return to the ring against ex-Kiwis star Paul Whatuira and Samoan league prop James Gavet respectively, on a stacked bill topped by All Blacks legend Keven Mealamu and former Warriors star Wairangi Koop.

They will be joined on the card by undefeated pair Andrei Mikhailovich (17-0, 10 KOs) and Jerome Pampellone (12-0, 6 KOs), who are both on event promoter Dean Lonergan’s books.

The 37-year-old Messam wound back the clock on Saturday night, coming off the bench in the 55th minute in the Chiefs’ 39-19 loss to the Blues at Eden Park.

The veteran was called into the squad last Tuesday after it was confirmed Kaylum Boshier, Mitchell Karpik and Simon Parker all had injuries that would sideline them for the rest of the season.

It was Messam’s first appearance for the Chiefs since 2018 and his 180th overall, but he says he doesn’t know if he’ll get to 181.

“I’m not sure,” Messam told Stuff.

The 36-year-old, who earned 43 test caps over eight years and won a World Cup in 2015, even thought Hansen “hated him”.

Messam particularly copped plenty of stick from Hansen, who was then an assistant coach under Graham Henry, in 2009, after the then 25-year-old started at No 8 and had a match to forget during a shock 27-22 loss against France in Dunedin.

“A lot of things didn't go well for me – I fell off a few tackles, I probably didn't put in enough back-to-back efforts – and I can remember it so clearly," Messam wrote in a column for The XV.

Waikato head coach, Andrew Strawbridge, has made several changes to his matchday 23.

There are two changes to the tight five, Rob Cobb and James Thompson have been elevated from the bench to start at loosehead prop and lock, respectively. Cobb and Thompson inclusion to the starting XV has, Ollie Norris and Hamilton Burr, moving to the reserve for this match.

Waikato captain, Luke Jacobson, switches back to number 8 making room for brother Mitch to start in his preferred position of openside flanker.

The Chiefs' most capped player will win his 150th cap for the franchise he's played for since 2006, when he starts at blindside flanker in round six of Super Rugby.

No 8 Michael Leitch returns from his one-match suspension to join Messam and Sam Cane in the back row; Siegfried Fisi'ihoi replaces Kane Hames (minor ankle knock) at loosehead prop as the forward pack shuffles for Saturday night's battle with the Bulls. 

The incident happened in a high charged moment at the Brisbane Tens where Tupou was playing for the Queensland Reds.

Tupou was cited and suspended as the former New Zealand schoolboys star literally came head to head with some tough senior competition from his old homeland.

In a statement released by organisers late on Sunday, judicial officer Chris Newton accepted a guilty plea from the young Tupou for contravening Law 10.4 (a): Striking with the head.

RNZI reports Sanzaar made the decision late last night and around six hours before the Chiefs were to leave for the airport to travel to Cape Town.

Messam joined the Chiefs after the June Internationals as injury cover having concentrated on trying to make the Olympics sevens squad.

Sanzaar ruled that as he was not part of the original squad of 40 players before April 1 and had not played four regular season matches, he could not play in the knock out stage.

Messam made just two appearances and played against the Reds and Highlanders.