All Blacks coach Graham Henry slammed young New Zealand rugby players who sacrifice ambitions of playing for their country to take up lucrative contracts overseas on Wednesday.

Speaking after the announcement on Tuesday that 83-Test veteran hooker Keven Mealamu has re-signed with the New Zealand Rugby Union until 2013, Henry explained his irritation when young players on the fringe of All Blacks selection leave to play overseas.

Henry said many of the players were young enough to still achieve selection, enjoy a full international career and then take up the opportunity to play in different countries.

"It irritates me that guys (just) under the All Blacks group who have a dream of being an All Black for 25 years all of a sudden get offered $500,000 and bugger off," Henry said.

"They don't carry on and fulfil the dream. There's plenty of time to do all of that other stuff. There are guys I know who've gone overseas who've regretted it immensely. Often it's (the result of) their partner's pressure, they want to do an OE (overseas experience).

"They get over there and they think, 'Oh ... it's not so nice over here after all.' The grass is not always greener."

Henry said he did not think New Zealand would lose a large number of All Blacks after this year's World Cup, but he regrets the loss of players who had not yet reached All Blacks level.

Many players choose to end their international careers after a World Cup and New Zealand rugby was hard hit by departures after the 2007 world tournament in France.

The NZRU has already re-signed a number of players beyond 2011 but it has yet to secure All Blacks captain Richie McCaw and flyhalf Daniel Carter.

"Obviously I'd love to see them stay," Henry said.

"In their case, they've been outstanding All Blacks and could be outstanding All Blacks for some time. They've done a hell of a good job for New Zealand rugby, and we're all hoping they'll stay and continue doing that good job because they're part of the backbone of the team.

"They've got some big decisions to make, but it's the guys who haven't done what Daniel Carter and Richie McCaw have done but have that opportunity and then are walking away from it that are worrying me."

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