Jerome Kaino

The 34-year-old, a two-time World Cup winner, made his debut in 2004 and played 81 tests.

He is the third most capped Blues player in history with 127 games to date, behind fellow All Blacks Keven Mealamu (164) and Tony Woodcock (137).

One of the highlights of his All Blacks career was playing all but one minute of the All Blacks' successful 2011 World Cup campaign.

He had a two-year stint overseas playing in Japan before returning to New Zealand and playing his way back into the All Blacks.

Kaino scored 12 test tries.

French media reports in December linked Kaino with Toulon as a replacement for Vermeulen, who will return to the Stormers for Super Rugby when Toulon's season ends.

Toulon owner Mourad Boudjellal on Wednesday (Thursday NZ time) confirmed the 39-test Springbok was heading back to South Africa.

"Vermeulen is leaving, he will be replaced by an international level player that we will announce in the next 48 hours," Boudjellal said.

According to Midi Olympique, Kaino was in discussions with the Top 14 side during the All Blacks' recent Northern tour.

His current contract with New Zealand Rugby goes through to the end of the 2018 season.

Kaino had to return home during the French leg of the tour due to a posterior cruciate ligament injury suffered in the Barbarians match.

The 34-year-old, 81-test veteran, was fighting to resurrect his international career after being bumped down the loose forwards pecking order.

Kaino's managed return for the All Blacks, following his heavily publicised personal issues that saw him return home early ahead of the Belisloe opener, remains on track to have the veteran loose forward back in full mode for the away Rugby Championship visits to Argentina and South Africa.

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.

His return to New Zealand followed the publication of a story in The Daily Telegraph this morning which alleged the married All Black had a relationship with a former Australian model.

NZR said it could not comment on the Kaino allegations or further details about Aaron Smith's personal life which were published today as both were "personal matters".

But NZR said it felt for all of those affected.

Chief Executive Steve Tew said the NZR understood that the game and players were under public scrutiny and these latest stories in the media were concerning.

Lions coach Warren Gatland expressed his anger at the treatment received by his scrum-half during the All Blacks' 30-15 victory at the weekend.

Kaino was one player highlighted for focusing on Murray after a lunging tackle on the Ireland international's standing leg as he kicked from the back of the scrum.

New Zealand coach Steve Hansen was quick to defend his players on Monday and Kaino has reiterated there was no specific plan to take out Murray.

"No, it's never our intent to go out and injure someone," Kaino said ahead of Saturday's second Test.

Lions coach Warren Gatland said New Zealand teams were deliberately blocking and holding players back to give the first five more time to clear the ball and he's mentioned it to the referees.

However Kaino says sticking to their game plan is the key to All Black success over a Lions outfit, who hit their straps against a strong New Zealand Maori side on Saturday.

Kaino says the All Blacks will simply have to adapt to how referee Jaco Peyper is going to officiate in the up-coming test.

"We have a game that we want to play and we will play that as well as we can.

Read has had surgery on a broken thumb and is expected to be out for six weeks which could have him back in time for the Lions match against the Crusaders on June 10th, two weeks before the first test in Auckland.

Kaino is due back a week later.

The squad for the first test against the British and Irish Lions will be named on Thursday, June 8th.

It's highly unlikely Read or Kaino will have been back on the field by that stage but they'll no doubt be named in the squad subject to fitness.

RNZ reports Kaino will rejoin the All Blacks squad for the final Test of the Rugby Championship against South Africa a week later.

Fellow loose forward Sam Cane and first five Aaron Cruden have been ruled out for the rest of the Rugby Championship due to injury.

Matt Todd and Damien McKenzie will travel as injury replacements for Cane and Cruden while George Moala and Waisake Naholo return from injury.