Tuqiri sacked by ARU
01/07/2009 7:54 PM
The Australian Rugby Union has terminated the contract of Lote Tuqiri, effective immediately.
The ARU has yet to make a comment on why Tuqiri has lost his Wallabies contract, as 'it may be the subject of legal proceedings'.
The governing body is treating it as 'a standard employment matter'.
According to a source close to the ARU, Tuqiri is facing an investigation into 'serious' accusations leveled him against him.
The ARU has known about the investigation for some time and gave the dual international the chance to deal with the matter.
It has now decided to end its association with Tuqiri, who has breached the team's code of conduct in the past and was known to be on his final warning.
Tuqiri switched from league to union in 2003, playing 64 Tests for the Wallabies.
The former Broncos star has been out of favour with national coach Robbie Deans this year, sent back to club rugby as the Wallabies opened the first four Tests of the international season without him.
Tuqiri's sacking opens the way for a return to rugby league or a move overseas