News

Court keeping mum on Tuqiri

August 07 2009

Legal teams for both sides in Wallaby winger Lote Tuqiri's court action against the Australian Rugby Union requested that the ARU's reasons for sacking him be kept private, court officials said.

The ARU last month dumped Tuqiri, a veteran of 67 Tests, halfway through a five-year contract - reportedly worth AU$700,000 dollars (US$588,000) a year - for undisclosed reasons.

Tuqiri has instigated court action against his contract termination by the ARU and the matter was briefly mentioned before Justice Clifford Einstein in the New South Wales Supreme Court on Friday.

Lawyers for both Tuqiri and the ARU argued that documents related to the matter be kept private.

The ARU's lawyer said it would be "undesirable for any publicity until objective arguments were made by both sides."

Justice Einstein said he was surprised by the request, noting it was unusual for public access to be denied in such a case.

"This court's usual practice would be to make the court documents relating to this matter available," he said.

The judge said he would hear further arguments on the matter from both sides later Friday.

Australia's rugby players' association is also holding its own, separate investigation into the ARU's decision to terminate Tuqiri's playing contract.