Playing this one for Plunket

BEN CURRAN/Fairfax NZ

SAFE PERCH: Waikato Chiefs co-captain Liam Messam and his 23-month-old son, Jai.

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Waikato Chief Liam Messam showed his softer side in Hamilton yesterday, spending time with his young son.

The father-son bonding session was part of an announcement that the BNZ logo on the team's Super Rugby jerseys will be subbed off in favour of a one-off Plunket charity jersey for this week's game.

The jersey swap will help kick off Plunket's annual appeal week, during which it hopes to raise $1 million.

Last year Plunket cancelled its annual appeal due to the Christchurch earthquake, leaving the organisation $1.2m down in fundraising. Yesterday, at the Ruakura cricket oval, Chiefs co-captain Messam and his 23-month-old son, Jai, played with a giant teddy bear, and fierce loose forward Scott Waldrom was more like a gentle giant with son Bair.

The players paraded the Plunket jerseys, which they will wear when they take the field against the Auckland Blues at Waikato Stadium tonight.

Following this week's games, jerseys from the Chiefs, Blues and Highlanders will be put up for auction, with all proceeds going to Plunket.

- © Fairfax NZ News