Lote Tuqiri

This article is about the Fijian and Australian dual-code player. For the Japanese rugby union player, seeLote Tuqiri (rugby union, born 1987).

Lote Tuqiri

Personal information
Full name	Lote Daulako Tuqiri
Born	(1979-09-23)23 September 1979 Korolevu,Fiji
Playing information
Height	191 cm (6 ft 3 in)
Weight	102 kg (16 st 1 lb)
Rugby league
Position	Wing,Fullback
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 1999–02 Brisbane Broncos 99 56 18 0 260 2010–13 Wests Tigers 52 27 0 0 108 2014 South Sydney 16 7 0 0 28 Total 167 90 18 0 396 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 2000–14 Fiji 4 5 7 0 34 2001–02 Queensland 6 5 4 0 28 2001–10 Australia 9 5 0 0 20
Rugby union
Position	Wing,Centre
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 2003–09 NSW Waratahs 89 29 1 0 148 2009–10 Leicester Tigers 16 3 0 0 15 2013 Leinster 2 0 0 0 0 Total 107 32 1 0 163 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 2003–09 Australia 67 30 0 0 150
Source:

Lote Daulako Tuqiri(born 23 September 1979) is a former professional dual-coderugby footballerwho primarily played as a winger across both codes. He represented Australia in bothrugby leagueandrugby union,andFijiin rugby league. Tuqiri first rose to prominence as a professionalrugby leaguefootballer for theBrisbane BroncosandQueensland Maroons,as well as theFijiandAustralianational sides. He was therefore a high-profile signing for rugby union in 2002, winning 67 caps forAustraliaand being a part of their 2003 and 2007World Cupsquads. He played rugby union for theWaratahsin theSuper 14andLeicester Tigersin England in season 2009–10. Tuqiri's contract with theAustralian Rugby Unionwas terminated on 1 July 2009.No immediate reason was given, and Tuqiri returned to rugby league in 2010, playing for theWests Tigersof the NRL. In September 2013, he signed a short-term contract with Irish rugby union giants,Leinsterto play in the Pro12 in a three-month deal.Just 6 weeks out from the 2014 NRL season, Tuqiri signed with his third NRL club, theSouth Sydney Rabbitohs,on a one-year deal.

Background

Tuqiri was born inKorolevu,Fijito mother Titilia and father Tukula and grew up inNamatakulawith family including older sister Mela, older brother Tevita and sister Sereana.He moved to Australia with his family at the age of 4, settling atSunnybank, Queensland(a suburb ofBrisbane) where he began playing competitive sport for the Souths Sunnybank Rugby Leaguewhile attending school at Sunnybank State High School.

Professional career

While signed with theBrisbane Broncos,he also played for thePast Brothersin theQueensland Cup.

Rugby league

Tuqiri won the1999 Brisbane Broncos season's rookie of the year award. In2000,he secured his regular spot in the first grade line-up at the club. At the end of the season Tuqiri played for the Broncos on the wing, scoring one try in their2000 NRL Grand Finalvictory over theSydney Roosters.After that he travelled to England as captain of theFiji national teamfor the2000 World Cup.The Bati failed to advance past the group stage, winning one of their three matches, but Tuqiri was his team's top try and goal scorer for the tournament.

Having won the2000 NRL Premiership,the Broncos travelled to England to play against 2000'sSuper League VChampions,St Helensfor the2001 World Club Challenge,with Tuqiri playing on the wing in Brisbane's loss. Tuqiri was one of many players picked byQueenslandfor their debut appearance during the2001 State of Origin series.He played in all three matches, scored Queensland's opening try and played impressively throughout the series, which was won by the Maroons. During the season he also went on to play test football forAustralia.He was picked to represent Australia againstNew Zealand,scoring a try in the 28–10 victory in the one-off Test match. Tuqiri was also the Broncos' top try-scorer for the2001 seasonwith 21, the second highest number of tries scored in a season by a Brisbane player. At the end of theseason,he went on the2001 Kangaroo tour.

As early as January 2002 it was being reported that theAustralian Rugby Unionwas seeking Tuqiri's signature.His2002 seasonwas also an impressive one, and he showed much of his renowned strength and speed, setting in round 9 a new club record for most points scored by one player in a single match. Once more he topped the Broncos' try-scoring ladder for the season (along withDarren LockyerandChris Walker) and again he represented both Queensland and Australia. Playing in all three games of the2002 State of Origin series,Tuqiri scored in each match, amassing a total of 28 points. He also became one of a select few players to score ahat-trickin an interstate match. At the 2002Dally M Awardshe was named as winger of the year.

At the end of the season, after the announcement of his switch to rugby union, he was overlooked for selection at the end of season Test against New Zealand.

Altogether, Tuqiri played 99 games for Brisbane between 1999 and 2002 and clocked up a tally of 260 points before his switch torugby union.His last game for the Broncos was the 16–12 preliminary final loss against eventual premiers theSydney Roosters.

Rugby union

Tuqiri's talent attracted the interest of theAustralian Rugby Union,and at the end of the 2002 football season he announced that he had signed a contract to play rugby union in 2003 with theNew South Wales Waratahs,and was therefore leaving rugby league. In 2003, he switched codes, moving from rugby league to play rugby with the Waratahs. Tuqiri's transition to rugby union proved to be successful, and his speed and strength gained him selection for theWallabies,for whom he made his international union debut in June 2003 againstIreland,becoming Australia's 43rd dual code rugby international.

He was one of four former Queensland Maroons players to feature in two of the top three teams in the2003 Rugby World Cup,along withMat RogersandWendell Sailorfor Australia andBrad Thornfor theAll Blacks.Tuqiri scored tries againstRomaniaandNamibiaduring the pool stages, and scored the Wallabies' only try in the final againstEngland.He finished the tournament as one of the top try scorers for Australia, behind Rogers andChris Latham.

In 2004 Tuqiri toured the United Kingdom and France with the Wallabies. On the Wallabies 2005 tour of Europe he was moved in-field tocentredue to a considerable loss of backs through injury during that tour. In 2006, he was selected to represent Australia in theRugby Sevensevent at the2006 Commonwealth Gamesin Melbourne. That season theWaratahswere semi-finalists in the Super 14 competition. During that year's Tri Nations series Tuqiri was suspended for five games after a dangerous tackle on All Blacks captain,Richie McCaw.

Tuqiri while playing for the Waratahs in 2007

During 2006–07 there was speculation regarding his future and whether he would stay in rugby union or return to rugby league.Tuqiri had stated that he was considering returning to league after the2007 Rugby World Cup,following the footsteps of fellow WaratahMat Rogers.Tuqiri had options to re-sign his contract with either the Waratahs or theRedsin theSuper 14,or numerous clubs in the NRL, including theSouth Sydney RabbitohsandCronulla-Sutherland Sharks.After being given a 5:00 pm deadline on 13 March 2007 to either accept or decline the offer from the Australian Rugby Union he announced he had decided to stay in rugby union for the next five years. During a 2007 Super 14 game, Tuqiri pushedSam Norton-Knightin the back after Norton-Knight "made a poor on-field decision".

Tuqiri's contract would ordinarily have meant that he would stay with the Waratahs and the Wallabies until the year 2012,but on 1 July 2009 the ARU announced an unexplained, immediate termination of the contract.Subsequently, it has been suggested that the reason for the termination of his contract was that he had entertained a 20-year-old student in his room, in breach of strict team rules.

He made his debut for theLeicester Tigersoff the bench against theSpringbokson 6 November 2009 and the Tigersdefeatedthe World cup holders.

Return to rugby league

Tuqiri playing forNorth Sydney Bearsin 2014

In February 2010, Tuqiri officially announced a return to rugby league after a seven-year absence. Signing a three-year deal with NRL clubWests Tigers,he was due to arrive in Australia at the end of March, a few weeks into the2010 NRL seasonbut instead he returned home early to play the Tigers' first home game in the 2010 season against Manly. He played his last game of rugby union againstLondon Irishwhere his Leicester side won 35–19.In his return to rugby league, he scored a try on his first touch of the ball, and at least one try in each of his first three games including a double against the Parramatta Eels on 26 March. His form in his return season for the Tigers continued to be strongand the club came within one match of the 2010 Grand Final.

On 19 October 2010, Tuqiri was officially named in the Australian squad for theFour Nationsas a replacement for the injuredJarryd Hayne.He played for the Kangaroos in all four matches, including the final, scoring one try. He became the first code-crosser to play test rugby league for Australia a second time after returning from rugby union.

Wests Tigers made the semis again in 2011, suffering a broken arm, quad strain and an injury to his ankle.Similarly, injury disrupted his 2012 season. He played his first game in round 5, and was a regular on the wing before breaking his upper arm in July. Coach Sheens said at the time, "The arm’s broken, so that’ll be the end of his season."

Before the start of the 2013 season, Tuqiri suffered a setback when scans revealed his broken arm had not healed. He had plates inserted into the arm and underwent bone grafts.He eventually made his return to first grade in round 23, playing in four games for his final season with Wests Tigers.

In September 2013, he signed a short-term contract with Irish rugby union team,Leinsterto play in the Pro12 in a three-month deal.

On 22 January, six weeks out from the 2014 NRL season, Tuqiri signed with his third NRL club, the South Sydney Rabbitohs, on a one-year deal. This deal is reportedly to add depth to the significantly reduced outside back stocks at the club. Tuqiri's rugby league career was expected to be over following the conclusion of the 2013 NRL season when his previous club, the Wests Tigers opted not to offer Tuqiri an extension to his contract after several injury-plagued season significantly reduced his on-field involvement for the club.

In May 2014, Tuqiri played forFijiin the2014 Pacific Rugby League International.He kicked two goals, and scored a try, but it wasn't enough as Fiji lost the match by 32–16. Tuqiri turned 35 during the 2014 season and was the oldest player in the NRL at the time.

On 5 October 2014, Tuqiri was a part of the South Sydney side who defeated theCanterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs30–6 in the2014 NRL Grand FinalatANZ Stadium,Sydney. It was Tuqiri's second NRL title in his career, having won a previous NRL Premiership with the Brisbane Broncos earlier in his career.

Family

Tuqiri is the cousin of his namesake, Fijian-born Japanese Rugby Sevens playerLote Tuqiri.

See also

• List of players who have converted from one football code to another

External links

• Lote TuqiriatIMDb
• Lote Tuqiri Official Website
• Wests Tigers profile
• Leicester Tigers profile
• Waratahs profile
• Wallabies profile
• Lote Tuqiriat theFormer Origin Greatswebsite.
• NRL profile