Former All Blacks loose and now Sevens player Liam Messam may have one eye on the Olympics but right now it's about getting back on the field.

The former Rotorua local hasn't played a game of rugby since late December due to a calf injury, but was at the New Zealand All Blacks Sevens training camp in Mount Maunganui this week.

Liam Messam training at Blake Park Mount Maunganui with the All Blacks Sevens. Photo: Tracy Hardy.

Liam, who was part of the successful All Blacks Rugby World Cup winning team, has been named in Sir Gordon Tiejtens sevens squad to contest the fifth and sixth legs of the HSBC World Series in Las Vegas and Canada in March.

The squad of 14 players will be whittled down to 12 players later next week.

Liam, who played 43 test scoring 30 points for the All Blacks, says it's great to get back on the field and train once more.

'The body's good, it's good to get back out there anyway and just run around with the ball. It's been a while since I've had a game of rugby… It's good just to get back out there with the boys.”

He's determined to make the Olympics but at this stage just wanted to get used to playing the sevens brand of rugby once again. Liam already has two Commonwealth Games gold medals from his time in the squad.

'That's the main goal is just getting back out there and understanding the game. So when I first started playing 15s. I had to work hard to become a 15s player. So now I've done that. I've got to earn my respect and become a sevens player.”

Liam says there has been some changes since he last wore the New Zealand sevens jersey in 2010.

'These boys are younger, fitter and faster and it's pretty hard to keep up with them. But I've put the work in over the pre-season to make sure I can.”

The 31-year-old says his calf injury has passed the notorious Tiejtens' training session.

'The calf is good, especially with Tiejt's trainings… to make sure I can be able to cope. It's been three big days on my legs so it's good to go.”

One thing Liam will be sure not to miss his the Chiefs' Investec Super Rugby season opener this Saturday against the Crusaders. He says he and his son will be watching it on TV.

'My son's favourite team is the Chiefs. He absolutely loves the Chiefs. He's in his Chiefs' jersey every day pretty much. So luckily he's got a good handful he can wear. So me and him will get down in front of the telly and we will be supporting the boys.”

The United States leg of the HSBC World Series gets underway on March 4 to 6 in Las Vegas and the Canadian leg will be held on March 12-13 in Atlanta.

The Squad: Kurt Baker, Dylan Collier, Sam Kickson, DJ Forbes, Gillies Kaka, Josh Van Lieshout, Liam Messam, Tim Mikkelson (captain), Sione Molia, Lewis Ormond, Sherwin Stowers, Beaudein Waaka, Regan Ware, Sonny Bill Williams.