Lote Tuqiri Suspended For Two Tests Over Team Breach

3 July 2007.

LOTE TUQIRI TO MISS NEXT TWO TESTS OVER BREACH OF WALLABY TEAM STANDARDS.

Wallaby winger Lote Tuqiri has been suspended for the next two Test matches over a breach of team standards.

Tuqiri’s suspension and a fine of $20,000 follow his failure to attend a team medical appointment and later a midday team recovery session at Coogee yesterday.

Tuqiri was later breath-tested upon request by team management and returned a reading above team limits.

Tuqiri is serving a two match suspended sentence over his off-field behaviour in Cape Town, South Africa on July 21, 2005.

That sentence was suspended on the condition that no further off-field indiscretions took place.

The matter of yesterday (July 2), was considered by the Wallaby Team Disciplinary committee last night at Coogee.

The finding of that Committee was to suspend Tuqiri for one match and impose a $20,000 fine.- That decision was referred to the ARU for review.

ARU Managing Director and CEO John O’Neill AO, in consultation with ARU Senior Management, has reviewed the committee’s decision and decided the suspended two match sentence should be enforced, along with the $20,000 fine imposed by the Team Disciplinary Committee.

John O’Neill said the findings of the Team Disciplinary Committee reached in 2005 in South Africa were very clear.  

“The agreement that no off-field indiscretions were to occur for two years has been broken and there is no alternative but to impose a two match suspension, beginning with this Saturday’s Test against South Africa at Telstra Stadium in Sydney,” John O’Neill said.

“As his club team West Harbour are not taking part in the Shute Shield finals series, the second match to be served as part of the suspension will be the return Bledisloe Cup match against the All Blacks in Auckland on July 21,” he said.

Tuqiri will remain with the Wallaby team in camp.