New Zealand Rugby

Key points:

• Tuivasa-Sheck has signed a three-year deal with the Warriors
• He left the club late in the 2021 NRL season to switch to rugby union
• Tuivasa-Sheck has played three Tests for the All Blacks

Tuivasa-Sheck – who won the 2018 Dally M Medal with the Warriors – has signed a three-year contract with the New Zealand club.

He left the Warriors late in the 2021 NRL season after being granted an early release from his contract.

The 12-team tournament will see Fijian Drua and Moana Pasifika join the five Australian and five New Zealand sides, set to kick off on 18 February 2022.

Teams will play each other once across the 14-week regular season, along with playing three teams twice, with an added focus on delivering more local derbies following the success of Super Rugby AU and Aotearoa.

The final series will see the top eight teams battle it out, with quarters, semis and final as follows:

Jones, 53, was voted on to the NZR Board of Directors after being nominated by the Tasman Rugby Football Union.

The 55-Test cap former All Black headed off Dame Annette King in replacing outgoing member Glenn Wahlstrom on the 12-person Board.

NZR Chair Brent Impey said Jones would add considerable mana, knowledge and expertise to the table.

"Sir Michael has already made an immense contribution to New Zealand rugby both as a player at every level, and as a leader in the community.

Sidelined All Blacks flanker Jerome Kaino isn't guilty of misconduct, but he needs to sort out his private life, New Zealand Rugby CEO Steve Tew says.

Kaino's absence from the All Blacks amidst allegations of an affair was raised as Tew fronted the news media to discuss the findings of the Respect and Responsibility report commissioned by the national body and unveiled in Auckland on Thursday.

Forbes is the most capped player in world sevens series history, playing in 89 World Series tournaments and a record 512 games.

The 34-year-old won 26 tournaments and six World Series titles with the All Blacks Sevens.

He also captained New Zealand to gold at the 2010 Commonwealth Games and to the World Cup title in 2013.

Forbes was named International Sevens Player of the Year in 2008 and has been the recipient of the Richard Crawshaw Memorial Trophy for Sevens Player of the Year at the New Zealand Rugby Awards in 2007, 2008 and 2014, the most wins by any player.

Crotty, who's preparing to return from injury for the Crusaders' Super Rugby quarter final match against the Highlanders on Saturday, has also signed on with Canterbury for another year.

The 28-year-old has played 27 tests for the All Blacks, including the first test against the British and Irish Lions last month, and has played 119 Super Rugby games for the Crusaders.

Crotty admitted he considered overseas options but chose to stay in New Zealand.

The pair have already begun paying a heavy price after they were accused of purchasing and consuming cocaine in Canberra following the Kiwis ANZAC Test loss to Australia on Friday night.

Bromwich has stood down as the Kiwis skipper and also been suspended for Melbourne's next two NRL matches, agreed to donate his $20,000 Kiwis Test match fee to a charity, and stood down from the Storm leadership group.

Melbourne Storm CEO Dave Donaghy said Bromwich had accepted the sanctions.