I might not play NRL - Tuqiri
A NERVOUS Lote Tuqiri was reborn as a rugby union winger with English giantkillers Leicester, and declared he might shelve ideas of a return to the NRL.
He has also hatched a bold idea to play for Fiji, which could result in him sparring against his old Wallabies team-mates in a one-off Test in Canberra on June 5.
The sins behind his ugly split from Australian rugby in July could not have seemed more distant. A packed house of 24,000 fans cheered him on when he ran out for the final 24 minutes of a 22-17 upset of world champions South Africa.
The red, green and white No.20 jersey was unfamiliar, but there was no doubting the dreadlocked figure wearing it at his new home at the Welford Road ground.
Tuqiri sprinted in to lend his shoulders to several rucks, shared in several key tackles to protect the lead and swept a bouncing ball into touch as the last act of the game before the Leicester heroes were feted on a lap of honour.
"I gotta tell you, I was very nervous doing the warm-ups and sitting on the dugout bench when I was told I was going on,'' Tuqiri said.
"I hadn't had those feelings for a while. To be part of a massive achievement like beating the Springboks with a depleted side showing such spirit is a great way back.''
It took 12 minutes for Tuqiri to make his first run - a 5m gallop - but the 67-Test winger is certain to be getting plenty more chances playing beside former All Blacks superstar Aaron Mauger.
Tuqiri has signed for the Tigers all right - the Leicester Tigers. The Wests Tigers in the NRL don't have a signature.
"I've signed until the end of the season (late May). It's open-ended, so both parties can see how it might go for another,'' Tuqiri said of his deal with Leicester.
"There is no deal with Wests. I'm looking into the Fiji thing. I think the rule is coming where you can play for a second country as long as it's a Tier Two nation.''
The International Rugby Board has yet to tackle that, but the Pacific Island countries are mounting a passionate case that could be timed perfectly for Tuqiri, 30, to play for Fiji at the 2011 World Cup.
Having his rich ARU contract torn up for breaching team rules at a Canberra hotel five months ago spun his world out of orbit. "It hurt initially but you have to get over that. I could have been smarter about one or two things. That's in the past,'' he added.
Off the field, he's getting used to his new surroundings with wife Rebekka and sons Samson, 4, and Imosi, 1. They have moved into a thatch-roofed house in a village outside the midlands town.
"Yeah, I'm about to buy some wellies. I see a few tractors each day. Had breast of pigeon for dinner for the first time last week, too. It's good and different,'' he chirped.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...-lotes-leicester/story-e6frey4i-1225795246462
For crissake WT pull out of dealing with this bloke- it is going to end in tears- he continues wheeling & dealing- now its thinking of playing for Fiji etc. He is not worth the effort. Let him chase the dollar elsewhere and put our money with people who care. Dont count on Taquiri.
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