Jerome Kaino has confirmed today that he's staying with New Zealand rugby until 2018.

The Blues and All Black loose forward has bucked the recent trend of senior players taking up lucrative overseas contracts at the end of this year's Rugby World Cup.

The likes of Conrad Smith, Dan Carter and Ma'a Nonu have all agreed to Northern Hemisphere deals at the end of the year.

The 31-year-old Kaino returned to the Blues and New Zealand last year, after a stint with Japanese club Toyota, having headed off-shore at the end of the All Blacks successful 2011 World Cup campaign.

Kaino is currently captaining the struggling Blues Super Rugby side, his retention will bring some relief to the franchise who have had their worst start to a season by losing all six of their games so far.

He had been off contract at the end of the year.

Kaino has played 57 All Black games, having made his debut in 2004 against the Barbarians.