The All Blacks fullback Mils Muliaina will skip the first three weeks of next year's Super 14 as part of a break he's negotiated in his new contract with the New Zealand Rugby Union.
Muliaina, who's 28, has re-signed with the NZRU until after the 2011 world cup.
Muliaina says the chance to right the wrongs of the 2007 world cup, when the All Blacks fell by the wayside at the quarterfinals, was also a major factor in deciding to stay.
Confirmation that Muliaina is staying until after the World Cup follows last week's announcement that the All Black forwards Ali Williams and Tony Woodcock had re-signed.
The 28-year-old Muliaina is the seventh-most capped All Black and most-capped All Blacks fullback, having played 68 Tests since 2003.
He, Williams and Woodcock join Richie McCaw, Rodney So'oialo, Keven Mealamu, Dan Carter, Ma'a Nonu, Brad Thorn, Andrew Hore, Neemia Tialata, John Afoa, Andy Ellis, Richard Kahui, Brendon Leonard, Jamie Mackintosh, Rudi Wulf and Liam Messam as all being signed through to 2011 or beyond.
