Tuqiri mystery deepens

It is understood that Tuqiri broke team rules in the Wallabies` hotel prior to the second Test against Italy.

There has been no suggestion of any improper conduct by Tuqiri other than the breach of the protocols.

The ARU took into account Tuqiri had already been given his last warning about player misconduct before terminating his contract, which was worth at least $600,000 a year.

The Nine Network alleged on Thursday that Tuqiri was offered a six-month payout on his contract by the ARU, but that he knocked it back.

"The matter is with my lawyers," Tuqiri told reporters camped outside his Sydney inner-west home before he left the city with his wife and two children to escape the media spotlight.

"I`ve got a supportive family which is really good. My wife and kids love me and I love them."

ARU chief executive John O`Neill has angrily denied he had an agenda to sack Tuqiri.

And O`Neill said he had no memory of threatening to sack former Wallabies coach John Connolly over an argument concerning Tuqiri in 2007.

O`Neill refused to reveal the reason Tuqiri had been dumped because of the threat of legal proceedings, but he did rule out any police involvement.

He bristled at the suggestion he had gone after Tuqiri.

"That`s ridiculous," O`Neill said. "That`s completely untrue and anyone who suggests that should think again."

O`Neill admitted Tuqiri was on his last warning following previous breaches of the code of conduct.

"It`s in the public arena that back in mid-August 2007 Lote was provided with a letter from me which indicated that due to a couple of offences at the time, he was on a warning and that further breaches would not be tolerated," O`Neill said. "That was a warning."

But O`Neill could not remember whether he threatened to sack Connolly over a dispute about Tuqiri`s availability for a Test against the All Blacks in 2007 following an off-field indiscretion in Brisbane.

O`Neill activated a two-game suspension hanging over Tuqiri after he and prop Matt Dunning were involved in a late-night drinking session, that led to an alleged assault on a Brisbane taxi driver.

Tuqiri and Dunning were cleared of any involvement in the assault, but they were still disciplined by the ARU.

O`Neill and Connolly are believed to have had a difference of opinion over whether a West Harbour club match should have been part of the suspension, which would have allowed him to play against the All Blacks.

"I have no recollection of that," O`Neill said. "There was a process in place that determined that Lote was stood down for two matches and fined. That`s precisely what happened.

"He had a suspended sentence hanging over his head from a prior offence. That sentence was imposed on him. It was a standard no-frills decision. Two matches and a fine.

"Discussions between myself and the coach remain ... I have no recollection of that conversation."

O`Neill also denied the ARU had axed Tuqiri to save money.

Tuqiri has not been able to make the Wallabies` 22-man squad this season.

"That wasn`t part of our consideration," O`Neill said.

Rugby Union Players Association chief executive Tony Dempsey criticised the ARU`s handling of the announcement of Tuqiri`s axing.

"I had to hear it first from the media," Dempsey said. "I would have thought the ARU would have extended us the courtesy of advising us of their actions before telling the public."

Tuqiri, Wendell Sailor and Mat Rogers were a trio of high-profile rugby league players O`Neill recruited to rugby union in 2002-03 to promote the code and strengthen the Wallabies outside backs.

But Rogers returned to rugby league in 2006, citing personal reasons, while Sailor was banned for two years for taking cocaine before returning to the NRL with St George Illawarra Dragons.

Asked if the rugby league experiment had failed, O`Neill said: "I don`t want to go down that path.

"They all played at the highest level. They all played for the Wallabies and played well. Time to move on."

Sailor said on ABC radio that he was shell-shocked by Tuqiri`s axing.

"I suppose when you see a player wanting to take legal action against an employer, it`s pretty serious," Sailor said.

"Obviously, they couldn`t sort things out.

"I`m just dumbfounded because he`s been a wonderful ambassador for rugby league and rugby union."