New All Blacks Sevens coaches confirmed
- 6 hours ago
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The new coaching group for the All Blacks Sevens has been confirmed with Willie Rickards head coach and two former stars of the game to assist him.
Rickards is promoted after being an assistant to Tomasi Cama who announced he would be standing down from the position in June.
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Former sevens captain Scott Curry will be assistant coach, while former All Black and sevens player Liam Messam has been appointed performance coach through to the 2028 Olympics.
Rickards played for Southland, Taranaki and the Highlanders, before moving onto coaching with Taranaki, New Zealand under-20's and then the New Zealand sevens set-up.
He also represented the All Blacks Sevens as a player (2006-2009).
Curry, who retired as a player in 2024, was brought into the coaching group in a part-time capacity in late 2025, while Messam, a two time Commonwealth Games gold medallist in Sevens, has been making his mark as an Athlete Development Coach at the Chiefs, a role he will continue alongside his Sevens commitments.
"This team has played a significant role in my life, first as a player and now as a coach, so to be given the opportunity to lead the programme is both humbling and exciting," Rickards said.
"We have a talented group of players and staff, including Scott and Liam. To have two former captains with experience across the World Rugby Sevens Series, including Olympic and Commonwealth games campaigns, will have a significant impact across our school, club, provincial and national sevens programmes.
Curry, who played 321 games for the All Blacks Sevens, is a four-time New Zealand Rugby Sevens Player of the year, won six World Series titles, and medalled at the Olympic and Commonwealth Games.
Messam is a two-time Commonwealth Games Gold medallist in Sevens, 43-Tests All Black, 2015 Rugby World Cup winner, and two-time Super Rugby champion (2012, 2013) with the Chiefs.