The New Zealand coach, Graham Henry, expects his World Cup centre Luke McAlister to return home next summer after a two-month stint with Sale and said he will not relax the national policy of not selecting players for the All Blacks who are earning their livings in other countries.

"Luke's overseas experience will be good for him as an individual, but I don't know if it will make him a better rugby player," said Henry. "There is no guarantee he will return to the All Blacks: he has to be good enough to do that." McAlister, one of nine of New Zealand's World Cup squad to move to Europe, intends to make a decision about his future in January.

"It has been my hardest year in the job with the failure in that tournament followed by the loss of so many players, but choosing guys who move abroad would devalue New Zealand rugby," added Henry. "Senior players who have given years of service may qualify for a sabbatical, like Daniel Carter, and that suits both parties."