KEY POINTS:
Seven names for the future, led by Waikato flanker Liam Messam, have re-signed with the New Zealand Rugby Union to play beyond 2007.
Messam, 23, the former national sevens captain and rising Chiefs forward, today announced he had extended his contract until the end of 2011, the year New Zealand hosts the rugby World Cup.
The other six players to re-sign have done so until the end of 2009.
They are Hurricanes winger/fullback Cory Jane and halfback Alby Mathewson, Crusaders loose forward Kieran Read and hooker Ti'i Paulo, Blues winger Rudi Wulf and Chiefs hooker/prop Aled de Malmanche.
Today's signatures come in the wake of numerous announcements from senior provincial players who are heading overseas from next year. That group is headed by All Blacks Carl Hayman, Chris Jack, Aaron Mauger and Byron Kelleher.
NZRU deputy chief executive Steve Tew said it was important to note that young and talented players were coming through the ranks.
"These young players have already offered much to New Zealand rugby and their decision to continue their careers here is a good one for New Zealand rugby," Tew said in a statement.
"These signings are a reflection of our ongoing work to develop and retain players in New Zealand."
Six of the seven players have represented New Zealand at age grade level or played for a national team.
Messam captained New Zealand to the final of the sevens World Cup in 2005 and in 2006 played a leading role in the team's gold medal-winning performance at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.
Jane, 24, was a member of that team in Melbourne, as well as the New Zealand Maori team who won the Churchill Cup tournament in Canada last year.
Alby Mathewson and Kieran Read represented New Zealand at last year's under-21 world championship in France.
Paulo, 24, captained New Zealand under-19 to world championship success in 2002 and two years later he scored a try in the 2004 under-21 world championship final, which New Zealand won against Ireland.
Wulf, 23, has represented New Zealand at under-19 and under-21 level and was a New Zealand sevens representative.
- NZPA
