Brisbane Broncos Test winger Lote Tuqiri has announced that he will be switching to rugby union next season.

The loss of the powerful winger is another bitter blow for rugby league which has been forced to sit back and watch a number of its most high profile stars make the jump to union.

Surprisingly, Tuqiri is the fourth Kangaroos wingers to jump ship in little more than a year after Wendell Sailor, Matt Rogers and Nathan Blacklock all chose to change codes in the hope that they would prove themselves good enough for a Wallabies guernsey in time for Australia's World Cup defence next year.

Tuqiri announced in a statement released by his management that he had signed with the Australian Rugby Union to play for the next two years.

A decision on which Super 12 side Tuqiri will play for has not been made, but the New South Wales and the ACT Brumbies are reported to be favoured.

"I have not made this decision lightly. It is difficult leaving rugby league a game which has given me so much," Tuqiri said in a statement.

He said the big factor in his decision was the opportunity to play in the Rugby World Cup next year in Australia.

"It will be a tremendous challenge trying to make the Wallaby squad for the World Cup in such a short time," he said. "I've been flattered by rugby's interest considering the strength of the Wallabies squad and look forward to next year."

In a comparatively short rugby league career, the winger won a premiership with the Broncos, captained Fiji in the Rugby League World Cup, helped Queensland win and retain the State of Origin title and represented Australia.

Sailor and Rogers have already played test rugby in their first season in the code.