Moody re-signs with All Blacks

Wellington - Prop Joe Moody has signed a contract extension to stay with the All Blacks and Canterbury Crusaders until the end of 2019, New Zealand Rugby said on Monday.

Moody has been All Blacks coach Steve Hansen's preferred option at loosehead this year, starting all three matches of the Wales series to take his Test tally to 14.

Hansen said retaining the 27-year-old was "great news" for the All Blacks, who lost veteran prop Tony Woodcock to retirement after last year's Rugby World Cup win.

"(Moody) has developed into a very important member of the All Blacks, he is a very good scrummager and works incredibly hard on his core roles," Hansen said in a statement.

"We look forward to watching how his game develops even further."