Former All Blacks five-eighth Luke McAlister will have a staged return to international play after the New Zealand Rugby Union on Thursday granted him an exemption from its overseas players policy.

He will be available for selection for the Tri-Nations series against South Africa and Australia, starting in July, but will only play in the earlier home series against France and Italy in June if current contenders were ruled out by injury.

McAlister has been playing for English club Sale for the past two seasons and, under NZRU rules, a player cannot be eligible for the All Blacks unless he has played in the preceding Super 14 or Air NZ Cup domestic season.

But McAlister signed a contract with the NZRU in February until 2012 and has been granted an exemption, with the Achilles tendon injury sustained by regular five-eighth Dan Carter very much in the mind of the union and the All Blacks coaches.

NZRU chairman Jock Hobbs said he did not see the board decision as opening the floodgates for quick returns to the All Blacks by other overseas players, saying the stand-down policy was taken seriously by the union.

"But we have felt after listening to the All Blacks coaches, having regard to the injuries that we have currently in the number 10 and 12 shirts and the depth of talent, that it is an appropriate time to exercise that discretion (for McAlister)," he said.

The exemption has been granted on the understanding McAlister will play first for the Barbarians - who play England at Twickenham on May 17 and Australia in Sydney on June 6 - and then be eligible for selection for the Junior All Blacks in the Pacific Nations Cup.

He will only be eligible to play for the All Blacks against France and Italy if other current contenders fell away injured, but will be eligible for selection in the Tri-Nations series.

NZRU chief executive Steve Tew said the selectors had asked for McAlister's return to the top level to be gradual.

"The coaches have mapped out that preference, that is the plan, and hopefully that is the way it is followed."

Hobbs said McAlister had said he did not see himself as returning and slotting straight back into the All Blacks as a matter of course.

However, his return will be welcomed, especially with Carter likely to be out for the Tri-Nations and a lack of depth in the inside backs.

"The coaches were of the view that while there was some young talent coming through, to put that young talent into the white hot arena of Bloemfontein versus South Africa, if we were to have an injury, wouldn't do them any good either," Tew said.

McAlister is due to return to New Zealand at the end of the English premiership season next month.

A 26-member Junior All Blacks squad to play in the Pacific Nations Cup and a 26-strong All Blacks squad for in the series against France and Italy will be announced at the end of the Super 14 competition.

A 30-strong All Blacks squad for the Tri-Nations series will be named in July.

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