Tuqiri decision days away
July 1, 2002

Rugby league giant Lote Tuqiri is reportedly days away from making a decison on whether his future lies in rugby union or the 13-man code.

Australian Rugby Union officials expecting a reply from the Brisbane Broncos winger to their lucrative offer within days.

The decision of the 22 year old, who starred in the recent State of Origin Series, is also likely to have an affect on the national selectors, with Tuqiri`s place in the Kangaroos Test side possibly hanging on his immediate plans.

If Tuqiri opts to take the ARU`s deal, it could signal the end of his international rugby league career.

Selectors will meet on Sunday to select the side for the July 12 Test against Great Britain and selector Les Geeves conceded Tuqiri`s future could depend on whether he decides to swap codes.

The ACT Brumbies say if Lote Tuqiri wants to switch to rugby union and play for the Wallabies at the World Cup he should firstly join them.

The Brumbies say that if the 22-year-old does accept the ARU's offer then playing in their team with the likes of Test stars George Gregan, Stephen Larkham, Pat Howard, Stirling Mortlock, Andrew Walker and Joe Roff.

"He gets the opportunity to play with those Test backline players so we believe if Lote wants to be in the World Cup then the best place to achieve that would be with the Brumbies," Brumbies team adviser David Pembroke said.

"We're extremely interested and we're looking forward to speaking to him to tell him about the Brumbies.

"We believe we have a good package to present to him because he would be playing with a team that has shown that it does move the ball around and brings its wingers into play as regularly as it can."

The Brumbies are keen to secure Tuqiri's services because they missed out on Tuqiri's former teammate Wendell Sailor last year, and with Roff back from France and Graeme Bond headed overseas, would likely put him on the wing.

The Waratahs are also keen to have Tuqiri play for them, and they are believed to have impressed him with their attacking style in the Super 12 season, but with topline outside backs Chris Latham, Ben Tune and Sailor Queensland is not expected to chase him.

"We would be keen on Lote and I know the Brumbies are, but Sydney has its advantages," NSW Rugby chief executive John McKay said.

"The Waratahs have been playing a very attacking brand of football, making the semis, and in terms of the team there is an opportunity there (for Tuqiri)."

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