Tigers seal deal for former Wallaby Tuqiri
Tuesday November 03 2009
LEICESTER TIGERS have completed the signing of former Wallaby winger Lote Tuqiri.
The 30-year-old Australian, who was capped 67 times in the gold jersey, joins Welford Road at a critical time with several back-three members currently out injured.
Tuqiri's central contract was cancelled by the Australia Rugby union in July for an alleged breach of a code of conduct, but Tigers head coach Richard Cockerill believes the capture of the high-profile player is a massive coup for the club.
"He is a world-class player, there is no doubt about that, with Geordan Murphy's injury being long-term, it's a great signing for us," said Cockerill.
"To have someone of Lote's undoubted class available and interested in coming to Leicester is excellent news."
Meanwhile, Northampton prop Brian Mujati has received a six-week ban for pushing referee Nigel Owens in the back during a recent Heineken Cup game.
The South African forward was cited after the incident, which happened when Saints lost to Perpignan in France last month.
Mujati is suspended until December 2, ruling him out of Northampton's opening two LV Cup games against the Ospreys and Saracens, plus Guinness Premiership appointments with Harlequins and Newcastle.
Independent judicial officer Rod McKenzie decided Mujati was guilty of an act contrary to good sportsmanship, although he also determined it was low-end in terms of its seriousness for an offence of physical abuse of a match official.
McKenzie accepted there were "compelling and exceptional mitigating factors" in that Mujati was suffering from concussion when the offence occurred.
Irish Independent
