The former All Black back Luke McAlister will return to New Zealand rugby this year and has re-signed with the NZRU through until 2012.
McAlister, who left New Zealand rugby at the end of 2007 to play for English club Sale, will return to New Zealand at the end of the English Premiership season in May.
25-year-old McAlister says he's returning home because he wants to be closer to his family.
NZRU CEO Steve Tew says their negotiations with McAlister had stepped up over the last two weeks and the deal had only been finalised in the last 24 hours.
McAlister is yet to decide on his provincial or Super 14 future teams and will discuss that on his return to New Zealand.
McAlister is currently recovering from a knee operation.
