THE TURQ IS GONE!

[waratahjesus]

Tuqiri ousted by the ARU

July 1, 2009 - 6:50PM

Lote Tuqiri's contract with the Australian Rugby Union has been terminated.
The ARU announced the shock development on Wednesday evening.
"The employment contract of Lote Tuqiri has been terminated effective today,'' a statement read.
"ARU has treated this issue as a standard employment matter.
"The ARU will not make any further comment on the matter as it may be the subject of legal proceedings.''
One of Australia's highest paid rugby players, Tuqiri was contracted to the ARU until 2012.
The ARU had been conducting an investigation into a possible breach of the players' code of conduct, but the circumstances of Tuqiri's sacking were unclear.
More to come

[waratahjesus]

wow!

big news!

wonder if he is getting a release or if his tahs contract remains intact?

like that there were no details given but the end of the article mentions the off field thing anyway!

if it is an off field incident, will be interesting to see league line up and take him with much bravado even though they have so much trouble already!

hopefully this is just something that can be resolved, lote and the tahs belong together, hopefully he and his family are alright!

[Sweet FA]

holy smokes?! what happened. i want to know. im intrigued
will he go back to league now?

[Corsair]

Couldn't happen to a nicer "snail".... let's face it he's well past it....

I hope this means I haven't got to watch him be "too slow" again at Uni this weekend !!

Without "The Turq" and Timana "The Tampon" Tahu (in one week, out for three), we might have a chance of beating the Students this weekend !!

[waratahjesus]

he makes more metres than most forward packs put together!
he is as much past it as richard brown is good!
he is important to the waratahs, i dont believe we need him internationally witht he current game plan but i would have him in my squad for impact and the tougher games when we need cover for drew!

[Sagerian]

Wow, wonder what happened, would have to be some serious shît (or not now that I think about it). Overseas clubs will no doubt be falling over themselves to sign him so he shouldn't be too worried.


-EDIT-

Website might need updating, especially in the "mates" section.

[mudskipper]

The less Lote says the stronger his case will be in front of the Judge… Small breaks in protocol don’t add up to loosing millions in payment…Additionally Past events over 2 years ago are hardly topical or relevant, especially when the real transgression was cause by someone other than Lote after he had left Lote’s company… A Judge will find this heavy handed and will reward Lote a huge amount of his outstanding contract and costs… This case will set an enormous legal precedent for sports contracts and law…

[Sagerian]

Most likely on the ball there mate (welcome aboard btw), from memory most of the "indiscretions" Lote has been put on notice for he's just been in the wrong place at the wrong time anyway, the last of which was pre-world cup. It reeks of wanting to unload Lote's contract and free up some cash.

The bit that confuses me is that NSWRU were allegedly contacted and agreed with the termination.

[waratahjesus]

it sounds like nsw agreed with the aru stance but still wanted lote to play for them, sounds like they didnt agree really!

its been a great media storm though, love the fact that his contract is being quoted as worth over a million when nsw only pay him 150, the aru 500 and personal sponsors 200, what pushed it over a million was his wallaby fees which allegedly came with extra money from sponsors, so technically if thats true they were saving money by not picking him.

hope he goes well in france or ireland!
always a top bloke. i have really hated the fuckers who think he is overpayed, he is payed what he was percieved to be worth by people who know far more about the game than wankers on the internet, plus he puts in so much time and effort into promoting rugby in the community, it seems like madness that the small indiscresions would ad up to this. even not playing he is worth more coloumn inches in a paper than the actual game itself, who the hell are they going to promote now? mortlock is to ugly and burgess wears glasses!

[BussoJets]

Originally Posted by waratahjesus

, who the hell are they going to promote now? mortlock is to ugly and burgess wears glasses!

WA's favourite son, Matty Dunning!

[Sagerian]

Ahaha, no doubt the Force is where he'll get his big chance and the Wallaby Makers will turn him into one of the most capped props in Australian rugby.

[Sagerian]

I can't remember where, but something that someone said somewhere on another forum got me thinking about a few things. Some of it is moot because no one knows what the hell the last straw incident was that got him canned, but lets go through the Lote file:

JULY, 2005: Involved in night club spat with teammate Matt Henjak in Cape Town and is fined $500 and given a two-match suspended sentence.

Henjak was sent home, Lote wasn't. From memory Lote was trying to break up some altercation and Henjak threw ice at him. Hardly can be held against Tuqiri.

JANUARY 4, 2007: Sent home from a Wallabies training camp after failing a fitness test.

Booze no doubt, but lets not forget that his nasal passages weren't open enough, an issue fixed by the classy management of the Waratahs.

MARCH 2, 2007: Apologises for shoving NSW Waratahs teammate Sam Norton-Knight and giving him a verbal spray for an on-field mistake.

This is in my opinion the worst thing Lote has done in his rugby career. I was in the crowd and saw this happen. I never agreed in the choice Two-Dads made but the shove in the back was completely uncalled for.

MAY 14, 2007: Apologises to Wallabies selector Michael O'Connor for putting his phone on loudspeaker during personal conversation about teammate Peter Hewat.

Classic Lote, this was good cos it gave us at least a few weeks of funny material. Go Lote! As a rule people shouldn't say shît that they can't say to someone's face anyway, so suck it up O'Connor, no one likes a cry-baby.

JULY 3, 2007: Banned for two matches and fined $20,000 for failing to attend a team medical.

Fair enough, just like in any other job where you're expected to rock up for something, he got in trouble.

JULY 1, 2009: Contract terminated by Australian Rugby Union, who were conducting an investigation into a possible breach of the players' code of conduct, although circumstances were unclear.

The big unknown, however we can eliminate drug use or any sort of criminal charge. It's going to be a violation involving alcohol, curfew, or any number of other rules set by the ARU.

In other words, nothing listed above is particularly damaging, I can think of things involving players like Dunning, Henjak, Mat Rogers, or any number of the angelic can-do-no-wrong Brumbies that have been worse over the years than this.

WaratahJesus once told me his theory on why the ARC was canned. He can explain it in full if he likes but in essence, it was a moneypit and something from the Gary Flowers era that John O'Niell didn't want to bother with. Tuqiri's huge and (possibly overpaid) contract extension was signed by Flowers shortly before he "left". Basically as soon as O'Niell came back, he said Lote was on his final warning, earning him the nickname "Last Chance Lote". Don't forget that O'Niell originally brought him over from League, so the only thing that changed was the amount of money he was on. This was his first indiscretion since he took over, boom, gone.


So the Gary Flowers era, it would seem someone is not a fan. Flowers' most significant contributions while at the helm are:


The establishment of the Australian Rugby Championship - Gone!
The signing off on SANZAR's current broadcasting deal - Renegotiated!
Lote's overpriced contract extension - Gone!
The introduction of the Western Force as Australia's fourth team in the Super 14 competition - Gon-.. errm I mean... Still here.. for now

[Sagerian]

Also:


RUPA CEO Tony Dempsey announces investigation into Tuqiri sacking

By Ed Jackson
July 08, 2009

Player concerns have forced the Rugby Union Players' Association (RUPA) to launch an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Wallabies winger Lote Tuqiri's sacking.

RUPA chief executive Tony Dempsey says several senior Wallabies, including captain Stirling Mortlock, were concerned by Tuqiri's sacking and want answers as to why his contract with the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) was terminated.

Dempsey said the association had received sufficient evidence to raise concerns over whether the ARU's and New South Wales Rugby Union's conduct was a breach of the collective bargaining agreement those unions hold with RUPA.

"I have spoken to the captain of the Wallabies and many from the Wallabies team and they have genuine concerns about the manner in which Lote's sacking has been handled by the ARU and NSWRU," Dempsey said on Wednesday.

"An 'iron curtain' has descended on relations between the players and senior management of the ARU. Players feel fearful and intimidated of the ARU. We need to restore trust and credibility with the game's administrators."

Dempsey wouldn't reveal what evidence RUPA had been made aware of but denied he knew the full story behind Tuqiri's sacking.

He said the association had contacted the ARU to make them aware of the investigation but had been unable to speak to ARU chief executive John O'Neill.

Dempsey said he was not sure if the sacking related to a personal vendetta against Tuqiri but he hoped that wasn't the case.

The investigation will be headed up by a yet-to-be-named "high-profile" retired judge with Dempsey saying any evidence of a breach in the collective bargaining agreement would result in legal action by RUPA against the ARU.

Dempsey said he had no fears about such a move damaging relations between the players' association and the sport's governing body, claiming the lack of contact before Tuqiri's sacking highlighted an already poor relationship.

[waratahjesus]

Right decision - Deans backs ARU move to dump Tuqiri

Greg Growden Chief Rugby Correspondent | July 6, 2009

WALLABIES coach Robbie Deans has fully endorsed the Australian Rugby Union for sacking Lote Tuqiri, one of the game's highest-profile players, and says the saga will not be a distraction in the lead up to this month's Bledisloe Cup match.

Commenting on suggest-ions Tuqiri's departure could fragment the Wallabies, Deans said he was confident the Australian team remained unified and "completely focused" on winning the Bledisloe Cup series, which begins in Auckland on July 18.

When contacted by the Herald last night, Deans said he supported the ARU in terminating Tuqiri's contract last week.

"I want to make clear that I was consulted during the process and I completely support the ARU's decision," Deans said. "I also fully support [ARU chief] John O'Neill's leadership on this issue.

"Obviously, I am unable to discuss Lote's actual termination but I have been concerned by how some have seized on this issue and may have attempted to use this to their advantage."

The ARU last week term-inated Tuqiri's multimillion-dollar contract. The move followed an investigation into what is understood to be a breach of Wallabies team protocol related to a recent incident at a team hotel. Tuqiri, who had been involved in several off-field misdemeanours, was believed to have been on his last warning with the ARU.

The ARU and Tuqiri have opted against providing details of what brought about his sacking because of imminent legal action.

Deans said that while it remained to be seen how the issue would affect the Wallabies, who commence a training camp in Sydney tomorrow, he was hopeful the players would not be distracted by it.

As the Wallabies are currently not together, it was impossible to gauge the mood of the group, but Deans says the team will soon be concentrating solely on the Tri Nations series.

It is understood the Wallabies squad is not aware of all the details behind Tuqiri's sudden departure.

Deans, who had a good relationship with Tuqiri, last night said he "always enjoyed working with Lote, and no one has wanted more for him to do well in the game than me".

Over the past year, Deans put an enormous amount of work into Tuqiri's game and, while overlooking him for the first three Tests this season, had not given up on him. Only a week ago Deans provided Tuqiri with some hope by explaining that if he kept doing the hard work, his opportunity would come.

"He is strong and he does intimidate," Deans said at the time.

However, with Tuqiri no longer available for selection, the wing berths for the Bledisloe Cup opener at Eden Park will be contested by Lachie Turner, Drew Mitchell and Peter Hynes. Turner and Mitchell are expected to hold on to their spots.

In his newspaper column yesterday, Tuqiri said he was "still in a state of shock" after receiving a telephone call from the ARU last Monday.

"My world was turned upside down," Tuqiri wrote. "And I didn't see it coming."

He said that due to "legal issues" he could not comment on the specific reasons why he was sacked.

"I haven't shed any tears but I don't think what's happened has really sunk in yet. I don't know what my future holds," Tuqiri said. "What I can say is that I am devastated."

[waratahjesus]

Tuqiri sues ARU in NSW Supreme Court

July 8, 2009 - 12:54PM

Lawyers for sacked Wallabies winger Lote Tuqiri have commenced legal action in the NSW Supreme Court against the Australian Rugby Union for breach of contract.

The action came on the very day the Rugby Union Player's Association (RUPA) said some Wallabies were feeling fearful and intimidated in the wake of Tuqiri's sacking.

The RUPA on Wednesday announced they were launching an investigation - headed by an unnamed "high-profile" retired judge - into the reasons why the dual international had his contract worth up to $1 million a year ripped up by the Australian Rugby Union (ARU).

On the same day, Tuqiri's manager Les Ross released a statement confirming the superstar's lawyer Mark O'Brien had commenced proceedings in the NSW Supreme Court against the ARU for breach of contract.

The statement said due to the court proceedings, Tuqiri could have no involvement in the inquiry announced by the RUPA into his termination.

"As the matter is now before the courts there will be no further comment," the statement said.

RUPA chief executive Tony Dempsey said several Wallabies, including captain Stirling Mortlock, were supporting the Association's action as they seek answers over Tuqiri's dismissal.

Announcing the sacking last week, the ARU cited an alleged breach of the player code of conduct but declined to give any detail of the offence because of possible legal action from Tuqiri challenging the decision.

The former rugby league star was reportedly on his final warning following some off-field indiscretions, including being fined $20,000 and banned for two matches for failing to attend a team medical in July 2007 and being fined and suspended after a nightclub spat with teammate Matt Henjak in South Africa in July 2005.

Dempsey said players were fearful about the security of their own contracts as a result of the sacking.

"There is a feeling of fear and intimidation (from) a number of players and they want to understand whether or not they are also walking on broken glass here and are they subjecting themselves to summary termination," Dempsey told reporters.

"Players are uncertain where they're standing and we need to create that certainty. We need to create some clarity around what constitutes a termination of a contract and what doesn't."

Dempsey said the RUPA had decided to initiate the investigation after uncovering information relating to Tuqiri's sacking which he said raised concerns over the ARU and NSW Rugby Union's conduct, but refused to reveal that information.

"I don't want to steal Lote's thunder," Dempsey said.

"I don't want to play out what is inevitably going to rise out in the court action that Lote's running against the ARU.

"I want to stick to the focus of our investigation. We have information enough to arouse our suspicions that there may be a possible breach of the collective bargaining agreement and it's important for the players that we take the action we are.

"We want answers as to the process, we want answers as to the reasons and we want to make sure that there has been no personal vendetta by anyone within the ARU against Lote."

The ARU said in a statement they were confident the issue had been dealt with correctly.

"ARU appreciates that RUPA represents players interests. Let them be assured this matter has been dealt with in a proper manner," the ARU said.

"ARU has also consistently stated we will not be going into details of the Lote Tuqiri termination due to the threat of legal proceedings."

Dempsey said that if the investigation revealed a breach of the collective bargaining agreement they would launch their own legal action against the ARU or NSWRU.

Despite the player concerns, Dempsey said industrial action had not been discussed and was unlikely to become an issue in the future.

"That's premature and hasn't been discussed at all," he said.

"I would be very surprised if the players were to take that position."

[waratahjesus]

this is getting better by the day!
the rumours seem to be hitting brick walls for me.
from what i can read between the lines, he had someone in his hotel room when he wasnt allowed and he will be arguing he wasnt in the matchday 22 so the rule didnt apply and also that for a misderminer it doesnt warrent his sacking and has caused him loss of future income due to reputation damage.

[waratahjesus]

Investigation launched into Lote Tuqiri sacking

By Ed Jackson

July 08, 2009 02:00pm

PLAYER concerns have forced the Rugby Union Players' Association (RUPA) to launch an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Wallabies winger Lote Tuqiri's sacking.

RUPA chief executive Tony Dempsey says several senior Wallabies, including captain Stirling Mortlock, were concerned by Tuqiri's sacking and want answers as to why his contract with the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) was terminated.

Dempsey said the association had received sufficient evidence to raise concerns over whether the ARU's and NSW Rugby Union's conduct was a breach of the collective bargaining agreement those unions hold with RUPA.

"I have spoken to the captain of the Wallabies and many from the Wallaby team and they have genuine concerns about the matter in which Lote's sacking has been handled by the ARU and NSWRU," Dempsey said on Wednesday.

"An "iron curtain" has descended on relations between the players and senior management of the ARU. Players feel fearful and intimidated of the ARU. We need to restore trust and credibility with the game's administrators."

Players speak: We all feel sorry for Lote

Dempsey wouldn't reveal what evidence RUPA had been made aware of but denied he knew the full story behind Tuqiri's sacking.

He said the association had contacted the ARU to make them aware of the investigation but had been unable to speak to ARU chief executive John O'Neill.

Dempsey said he was not sure if the sacking related to a personal vendetta against Tuqiri but he hoped that wasn't the case.

The investigation will be headed up by a yet-to-be-named "high-profile" retired judge with Dempsey saying any evidence of a breach in the collective bargaining agreement would result in legal action by RUPA against the ARU.

Dempsey said he had no fears about such a move damaging relations between the players' association and the sport's governing body, claiming the lack of contact before Tuqiri's sacking highlighted an already poor relationship.

[waratahjesus]

Tahs target Ioane



Bret Harris | July 10, 2009
Article from: The Australian

NSW Waratahs have made a late bid for Wallabies winger Digby Ioane as a replacement for Lote Tuqiri, who was sacked by the ARU last week for breaching the code of conduct.

The hard-running Ioane has indicated his intention to re-sign with Queensland, but is yet to put pen to paper.

He would be a logical replacement for Tuqiri, who was the Waratahs' highest-profile player.

Waratahs coach Chris Hickey said Ioane was assessing Queensland's future direction before re-committing to the Reds in the same way Wallabies inside centre Berrick Barnes is monitoring changes to the team's coaching staff and management.

"Digby was interested to talk to us," Hickey said.

"It depends where he sees his future. There's not many players in Australia who aren't contracted. He's one of them. He becomes a potential (candidate) to fill that position for us."

Ioane told guests at the Reds' ball in Brisbane last week that he intended to stay.

"Digby hasn't re-signed, but we are trying to get the paperwork finalised and hope to put it to bed in the next couple of days," QRU chairman Peter Lewis said. "I see no problem."

The Waratahs will continue to look overseas for a winger and a second-rower to fill their two import spots. "We'll wait and see what Digby does," Hickey said. "If we're not successful, we'll continue to look at what's available."

After ARU chief executive John O'Neill tore up Tuqiri's contract, NSW asked the national union if he could continue to play for it in the Super 14.

The ARU advised the Waratahs Tuqiri could not play for them because the ARU would have to be a signatory to a tri-party agreement.

But the Rugby Union Players Association suggested Tuqiri would be allowed to play for the Waratahs next season if the Super 14 side offered him a new contract.

Tuqiri would be able to command about $220,000 a season as the Waratahs' wild-card plus his sponsorships with companies such as Vodafone.

This would not be as much as Tuqiri could earn playing club rugby in France, but it would be comparable to what he would receive if he returned to league.

"Someone asked me the other day is he (Tuqiri) being banned from the game," RUPA chief executive Tony Dempsey said.

"My understanding is he hasn't been banned from the game. He has had his contract terminated."

RUPA will launch an investigation into the conduct of both the ARU and the NSWRU in relation to the sacking of Tuqiri.

[waratahjesus]

interesting tidbit about Lotes contract. the fact he can resign but the ARU dont want him to. interesting just how much the Tahs wanted to hold onto him despite the early reports that they were in total agrement.

[waratahjesus]

Mortlock's men seek clarity on Lote sacking

Greg Growden | July 10, 2009

The Lote Tuqiri saga continued to hover over the Wallabies yesterday, with Test captain Stirling Mortlock saying his teammates wanted "clarity" on the matter.

Mortlock's comment came after the Australian Rugby Union Players Association claimed a number of Wallabies players were feeling fearful and intimidated following Tuqiri's sacking last week.

Tuqiri's dispute will next month head to the NSW Supreme Court, where proceedings against the Australian Rugby Union and the NSW Rugby Union for breach of contract will begin. Directions are scheduled to be given on August 7.

It is understood Tuqiri was sacked by the ARU after an investigation into a recent breach of Wallabies team protocol, relating to an incident at the team hotel.

The court action has prompted Tuqiri to state that he could not be involved in a proposed RUPA investigation into the conduct of the ARU and NSWRU over his contract termination.

Mortlock was dragged into the drama by RUPA chief executive Tony Dempsey, who on Wednesday said he had spoken to the Wallabies captain and several other players who had aired concerns about the manner in which Tuqiri's sacking was handled by the ARU.

When asked for clarification yesterday, Mortlock said: "Basically from a playing group perspective, with our coaching staff and management, we are very happy with the way we are progressing �c It is a RUPA issue, and RUPA is dealing with the ARU. It's really quite separate from what we are focusing on, which is this Test match in a week and a bit time."

Asked if younger squad members had talked to him about the Tuqiri issue, Mortlock replied: "It is important to just get clarity. It has been a little bit uncertain and that's what RUPA is seeking to do."