Messam explains France move

Chiefs and All Blacks veteran loose forward Liam Messam says his decision to leave New Zealand for France was in order to prolong his rugby career.

Last week, it was confirmed the Chiefs' record-capped player (161) had agreed a two-year deal with the French glamour club Toulon.

The 33-year-old will depart for the south of France at the conclusion of the 2018 Super Rugby season.

Messam says it was not an easy decision to make, but after experience abroad in Japan, he realised this would be the ideal opportunity to prolong his career.

"I'm 34 this year, so to get an opportunity like I did for a couple of years and to push my career out longer is a reason why, but just to travel and live the French lifestyle," Messam told Newshub.

"I've had three seasons in Japan and that opened my eyes up to the world. I enjoyed the culture, the food, everything about it, so that got me really excited about going to France.

"I've always wanted to play in the European Cup, and I've always had the itch to go play up there and see what it is like, compared to Super Rugby.

"It took a lot of thinking and it is a big move to move everyone up to France, but at the end of the day, I thought it was the right call, so we will see how it goes."