Australia's rugby union abruptly sacked star winger Lote Tuqiri on Wednesday but refused to disclose its reasons.

The move was announced in a brief, three-line statement from the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) which said Tuqiri's employment contract "has been terminated effective today."

The ARU said that it was a "standard employment matter" and that it would not make any more comment in case of legal proceedings.

However, Sydney's Daily Telegraph said the high-earning Tuqiri, who scored 30 tries in 67 Tests, had been axed after an investigation into an "off-field incident."

"The ARU had been conducting an investigation into a possible breach of the players' code of conduct, but the circumstances of Tuqiri's sacking remained unclear tonight," the newspaper's web edition said.

Tuqiri has been overlooked for the last four Tests, with the Wallabies set on Thursday to announce their squad for the upcoming Tri-Nations series with New Zealand and South Africa.

He appears well down the pecking order, with Lachie Turner, Drew Mitchell and Peter Hynes all selected this season ahead of him.

Tuqiri, 29, scored just two tries in this year's Super 14 series as part of the NSW Waratahs' misfiring back line.

He earlier laughed off suggestions he was planning to return to his former sport of rugby league after apparently falling out of favour with Australia coach Robbie Deans.

"Believe me when I say my future remains firmly in rugby union," Tuqiri wrote in a newspaper column.

"I've had journalists ringing me over the past couple of weeks asking if I'm ready to chuck in the towel and go back to league.

"It's not an option. It's laughable... I'm happy in rugby, I'm signed until 2011 and I'm focused on putting my best foot forward for the NSW Waratahs and the Wallabies."

The Australian newspaper reported earlier that Tuqiri had been issued with a "final warning letter" after a late-night drinking session with his Australia team-mates in 2007.

AFP

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