Lote Tuqiri speaks out, a little

Monday 14 December 2009
Published By: Ben Welch
Heineken Cup > Leicester Tigers

Lote Tuqiri has shed some light on the mysterious circumstances surrounding the end of his international career.

The winger's contract with the Australian Rugby Union was recently cancelled, prompting him to move to England and join Leicester Tigers.

Speculation over what caused the end of his Wallaby days has been rife, but a confidentiality clause has prevented anyone from getting to the truth.

But in an interview with the Mirror, Tuqiri admitted a number of transgressions that probably had much to do with it, with alcohol usually to blame.

"There are a lot of things I shouldn't have done," he was quoted as saying. "I should have been smarter. I was young, famous, wealthy and too much in a comfort zone."

He is now determined to show that his best rugby is yet to come, although he has not yet scored for the Tigers and his first Heineken Cup game was a 40-30 loss to Clermont this weekend.