Tuqiri settles ARU dispute

Tuqiri (pictured), a 67-Test veteran and formerly one of Australia's highest-paid players, sued the ARU and its provincial counterpart, the New South Wales Rugby Union, after his shock sacking in July for disciplinary reasons not made public.

"Following mediation discussions between the parties, an agreed settlement has been reached and Mr Tuqiri has agreed to discontinue his proceedings against the ARU and NSWRU," the ARU said in a statement.

"The parties do not intend to make any further comment."

The 29-year-old, whose contract was reportedly worth A$1 million (£510,000) a year until 2012, has flagged a return to National Rugby League and has denied Australian media reports that said he had signed a big-money deal with an overseas club.

Tuqiri's dismissal, which also precluded him from continuing with NSW Waratahs, followed an indifferent season in which he scored only two tries for the Super 14 province.

Tuqiri, who scored 30 tries for the Wallabies after crossing from rugby league in 2003, was handed an official warning and a midnight curfew for the 2007 World Cup after several incidences of misconduct that year.