Tuqiri tells Gallop reason for ARU sacking

Reuters

SIGNED UP: Sacked Wallaby Lote Tuqiri, who had been playing rugby with Leicester, has switched back to rugby league, signing with the NRL's Wests Tigers.

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Lote Tuqiri had to tell NRL chief executive David Gallop the reasons for his sacking by the ARU before his three-year contract with Wests Tigers could be registered.

Tuqiri, who is playing rugby union in England with Leicester, will join the Tigers at the end of March, and could make his first NRL appearance since leaving the Broncos to sign with the ARU in 2002 in round four.

Tuqiri's signing completes the return of the trio of high-profile NRL Test stars who switched codes to play for the Wallabies in the 2003 Rugby World Cup, with Mat Rogers at the Titans and Wendell Sailor playing for the Dragons last season.

Sailor was among those to congratulate Tuqiri after the news of his signing broke on smh.com.au, tweeting his long-term former teammate: ''Congrats my man i think u have made a great decision well played that man. I know one of my boys will look after u beau ryan!!!!!''

Another former Broncos international, Karmichael Hunt, who is playing rugby union in France before his switch to AFL next year, also twittered Tuqiri: ''Congrats bra! just saw the headline about your move … thats awesome!''

Tuqiri replied to Hunt: ''Thanks my man! Nowhere near as big a move as yours will be.''

Tuqiri also thanked those of his more than 4000 followers who had congratulated him, adding: ''It's great to have my future locked down.''

Before the 30-year-old dual international's return could be finalised, he had to reveal to Gallop why the ARU last year terminated his A$1.2 million-a-season contract.

''I spoke to Lote last night and asked him about the reason he was terminated by the ARU,'' Gallop said. ''I had always said that if a club was close to signing him I would need to know.

''From what he told me, it would not be a situation which would preclude him being registered to play in the NRL. But it is still the subject of a confidentially agreement with the ARU so therefore it would not be appropriate to disclose anything more.''

Gallop revealed he had been in frequent contact with Wests Tigers chief executive Stephen Humphreys, who flew to England to finalise the deal.

''I've spent the last 72 hours in pretty intense email and telephone exchanges with Stephen Humphreys in Leicester,'' he said. ''There were a number of salary-cap issues that took a bit of sorting out, but given they have announced his signing, it seems they have accepted our ruling.''

The Sydney Morning Herald had earlier been told the problem revolved around a third-party sponsorship deal with boot manufacturer Blades, which at one stage threatened to scuttle the deal.

Humphreys said: ''There is a minimal third-party element to the deal''.

He said Tuqiri could have earned significantly more money playing rugby in England or France, but after his stint with Leicester the Fiji-born winger and his family were keen to return home to Drummoyne.

''I think Lote and his family have really enjoyed it over here,'' Humphreys told the SMH on his way to Heathrow Airport last night. ''It has been a tonic for them given the unsettling situation they went through after the ARL issue, but there is no place like home.

''From a sporting point of view, the easy option for Lote would be to stay and take the good money on offer here and the even better money in France. No one would begrudge him that. He's 30 years old and could play rugby here for another five years …

''He obviously has things he wants to achieve and a considerable influence on his decision was the opportunity to play under Tim Sheens.''

Sheens, the Australian coach, revealed the former Queensland Origin and Test star had his sights set on reclaiming his representative jerseys - ''something other players coming back from rugby union have been unable to do of late''.

- © Fairfax NZ News