Fiji want Tuqiri for Pacific Cup

Fiji want to pick dual-code international Lote Tuqiri in their squad for the Pacific Cup in October – even if he hasn’t signed with a league club by then.

Tuqiri, 33, has been looking for a club after having his contract terminated by the Australian Rugby Union in July.

Born in Fiji, the winger played five times for Australia in league, before making 64 appearances for the Wallabies.

He could be joined in the Pacific Cup tournament by AFL-bound Karmichael Hunt, who has been approached by the Cook Islands. The winners of this year’s Pacific Cup will earn a place in the 2010 Four Nations, alongside England, Australia and New Zealand.

FNRL chairman Peni Musunamasi told Australian magazine Rugby League Week: “(Lote) was my captain when I was team manager at the 2000 World Cup and it would be great to have him play for Fiji.”

But ARL chief executive Geoff Carr says there are “ethical concerns” about letting Hunt play. “Should we be rewarding a bloke who is turning his back on our game?” he said.