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Wellington - All Black hooker Keven Mealamu has re-signed with the New Zealand Rugby Union and Vodacom Super Rugby side the Blues until 2013, passing up the chance to take a lucrative contract overseas after the Rugby World Cup.
Mealamu has been a mainstay of the national team since his 2002 debut and his 83 Tests make him the fourth-most capped All Blacks player behind skipper Richie McCaw and Mils Muliaina (94) and former hooker and captain Sean Fitzpatrick (92).
"I am very grateful to the New Zealand Rugby Union, the Blues and Auckland Rugby and their respective management teams for all the work they have done with me and for the unconditional support they have shown me and I'm delighted to be staying in New Zealand," the 32-year-old said in a statement on Tuesday.
"Loyalty is something I believe in and I have always hoped I could repay the support I have been given, by showing my continued loyalty to New Zealand."
Auckland captain Mealamu also became the first to play 100 matches in a Blues jersey last year and has led his team to second in the New Zealand conference at the halfway mark of this year's southern hemisphere provincial tournament.
His contract extension provides a boost to All Blacks coach Graham Henry, who stands to lose some of his best players to richer clubs overseas following the September 9 - October 23 World Cup.
"Kevie is a very important part of the All Blacks team, is part of our leadership group and is a very special man," said Henry.
"He is a role model not just in rugby but also the wider communities he is involved in, he gives so much of himself and we are delighted that he will be staying in New Zealand."
