For the first time in more than five years, oft-troubled winger Lote Tuqiri won't be part of Australia's squad to contest the Tri-Nations tournament. Or any other future test match for the Wallabies.
The Fijian-born Tuqiri had his contract terminated by the Australian Rugby Union for undisclosed reasons.
The following morning, Thursday, No. 8 Wycliff Palu and scrumhalf Will Genia were added to the Wallabies' 30-man squad for the Tri-Nations tournament which begins July 18 when the Wallabies play defending champion New Zealand in Auckland.
In a statement Wednesday, the ARU said the 67-test player's employment had "been terminated effective today."
The 29-year-old Tuqiri, one of Australia's highest paid rugby players, had a contract through to 2012. While circumstances of his dismissal were not released, Tuqiri had been placed on notice by the ARU over several off-field indiscretions.
They included a two-match ban and a AU$20,000 ($16,000) fine for failing to attend a team medical, and registering an alcohol reading at a training session in July 2007.
Also in 2007, he put a phone call to Wallabies selector Michael O'Connor on a loudspeaker, causing embarrassment to Waratahs teammate Peter Hewat, who was mentioned in a negative light during the phone conversation.
ARU chief executive John O'Neill said Tuqiri's situation did not involve a police matter.
"Clearly the decision to terminate a contract is one that requires a lot of consideration. We gave that consideration and reached the conclusion with our eyes wide open," O'Neill told a news conference Thursday, adding that since Tuqiri had already retained several lawyers to fight the termination, he would not comment further.
Palu and 21-year-old Queensland Reds scrumhalf Genia, who will replace Josh Valentine, were among the new faces named in Robbie Deans' squad which included 17 forwards and 13 backs.
Genia, born in Papua New Guinea where his father still lives, qualifies for the Wallabies as a longtime Australian resident.
"If you look at the competition from a historical perspective, and more particularly look at the pointers from our experience last year; it is in the forward pack where our resources are most likely to come under stress," Deans said.
Genia, returning from a torn tendon injury in his finger, joins Western Force loose forward Matt Hodgson as uncapped members of the squad.
Valentine went on as a second-half replacement in Australia's win over France last weekend but Deans said that if Genia had been fit for first stage of the international season, the Queenslander would have been the preferred backup scrumhalf.
The same applied to Palu, a longtime teammate of Tuqiri's at the New South Wales Waratahs, who is returning from injury.
Tuqiri was not selected for Australia's first four matches of the season, which included wins over the Barbarians, Italy and France.
Reportedly earning 700,000 Australian dollars ($565,000) a year, Tuqiri has been the incumbent winger for Australia since switching from rugby league in 2003 and has been part of two World Cup campaigns. He played rugby league for Australia and Fiji and was a key player for the Brisbane Broncos in the National Rugby League before switching to the 15-man code.
Several rugby league clubs, including the Broncos, said Thursday they'd welcome his return to the NRL. "We'd be very happy to take him back," Brisbane coach Ivan Henjak said.
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Australia squad: Backs: Adam Ashley-Cooper, Berrick Barnes, Luke Burgess, Quade Cooper, Ryan Cross, Will Genia, Matt Giteau, Peter Hynes, Drew Mitchell, Stirling Mortlock (captain), James O'Connor, Timana Tahu, Lachie Turner.
Forwards: Ben Alexander, Al Baxter, Richard Brown, Pek Cowan, Rocky Elsom, Matt Hodgson, James Horwill, Peter Kimlin, Stephen Moore, Dean Mumm, Wycliff Palu, David Pocock, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Benn Robinson, Nathan Sharpe, George Smith, Phil Waugh.
