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Tuqiri from Tigers to Tigers
Lote Tuqiri: Heading home
Lote Tuqiri will be playing for the Tigers next season - The Wests Tigers rugby league team though, not the Leicester Tigers union team.
Tuqiri signed on the dotted line overnight on Wednesday, with the Wests calling the signing one of the biggest in its history.
"We made it clear early on that should Lote be interested in returning to rugby league, then Wests Tigers were keen to accommodate him," Wests CEO Steve Humphreys said.
"This club is about developing our local juniors to first grade but it is also good to attract high quality talent.
"Lote attracted significant interest from European rugby clubs who have greater financial resources than we do."
Tuqiri was sacked by the Australian Rugby Union last year after breaching team protocol and subsequently moved north to Leicester after a spell in the wilderness, but has had problems settling into life in England.
"I enjoyed my time in rugby union immensely and have been very fortunate to have made many great friends through my time in the code," he said,
"The Leicester Tigers have been terrific to me and my family and we will never forget the warm hospitality they and their supporters have shown us.
"I'm really excited to return to the NRL. There is no question it is one of the toughest sporting competitions in the world and I am confident Wests Tigers will enjoy great success in the coming years."
