Lote Tuqiri sacked by ARU

Fiji born Lote Tuqiri's days as a Wallaby and Waratah are over after the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) last night terminated his multimillion dollar contract for unknown reasons.

The ARU provided little details as to why one of its highest paid performers was no longer contracted and would not confirm nor deny whether it was a result of a protocol or code of conduct breach.

When Tuqiri moved to the Australian rugby ranks from rugby league in 2003 it was to great fanfare, as it was an enormous coup for the code.

He leaves it in bewildering circumstances after 67 Tests for the Wallabies, with his options at age 29 to play rugby overseas, return to rugby league or retire.

There was an air of mystery last night over why Tuqiri had been sacked, with uncertainty over when, where and even whether he had been involved in an incident and, if he had, the extent of it.

Tuqiri who spent part of yesterday attending his son's swimming lesson, will take legal action over the issue, with Mark O'Brien representing him.