All Blacks winger Zac Guildford will continue his professional rugby career, although the New Zealand Rugby Union says conditions around the decision will remain confidential.

The decision comes after the NZRU met Guildford and his representatives in Auckland on Wednesday, after a misconduct hearing on Tuesday.

In January, the 11-Test All Black withdrew from the Crusaders indefinitely after being involved in the latest alcohol-related incident to blight his career.

The NZRU’s general manager of professional rugby, Neil Sorensen, said the decision wasn’t reached lightly or hastily and followed a “very thorough” misconduct process and consultation with medical experts.

“We have had a full and frank discussion with Zac about the situation in which he finds himself, including his medical condition,” Sorensen said in a statement.

“Despite the serious misconduct, we found there were sufficient mitigating circumstances to believe Zac can continue to make a significant contribution to New Zealand rugby, provided he observes the conditions and continues with his path to recovery.”

Guildford says he accepts he has challenges that will be with him for life.

“I know I have apologised for my behaviour before, and that people’s patience has grown thin. For that reason, I am hugely grateful that I have been given this opportunity to show that I really am serious about getting my life heading in the right direction,” he said.

Guildford had previously been called before the NZRU three times in 18 months on alcohol-related issues.

The troubled winger ran into problems while on holiday in Rarotonga in November 2011, and vowed to give up alcohol after a naked, drunken night out in which he allegedly harassed a female jogger and then, after shedding his clothes and with blood streaming from his head, attacked two men in a bar.