Lote Tuqiri facts for kids

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Lote Tuqiri

Personal information
Full name	Lote Daulako Tuqiri
Born	(1979-09-23) 23 September 1979 (age 45) Korolevu, Fiji
Playing information
Height	191 cm (6 ft 3 in)
Weight	102 kg (225 lb; 16 st 1 lb)
Rugby league
Position	Wing, Fullback
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 1999–02 Brisbane Broncos 99 56 18 0 260 2010–13 Wests Tigers 52 27 0 0 108 2014 South Sydney 16 7 0 0 28 Total 167 90 18 0 396 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 2000–14 Fiji 4 5 7 0 34 2001–02 Queensland 6 5 4 0 28 2001–10 Australia 9 5 0 0 20
Rugby union
Position	Wing, Centre
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 2003–09 NSW Waratahs 89 29 1 0 148 2009–10 Leicester Tigers 16 3 0 0 15 2013 Leinster 2 0 0 0 0 Total 107 32 1 0 163 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 2003–09 Australia 67 30 0 0 150

Lote Daulako Tuqiri (born 23 September 1979) is a famous former professional rugby player. He was known for playing both rugby league and rugby union. Lote mostly played as a winger, which is a fast player on the side of the field.

He played for Australia in both types of rugby. He also represented his home country, Fiji, in rugby league. Lote first became well-known playing rugby league for the Brisbane Broncos and the Queensland Maroons. He also played for the national teams of Fiji and Australia.

In 2002, Lote made a big move to rugby union. He played 67 games for Australia. He was part of their teams for the 2003 and 2007 Rugby World Cups. He played rugby union for the Waratahs in Australia and the Leicester Tigers in England. In 2009, his contract with the Australian Rugby Union ended. Lote then went back to playing rugby league in 2010 for the Wests Tigers. Later, in 2013, he played a short time for Leinster, an Irish rugby union team. In 2014, he joined the South Sydney Rabbitohs for his final NRL season.

Early Life and Background

Lote Tuqiri was born in Korolevu, Fiji. His parents are Titilia and Tukula. He grew up in a place called Namatakula with his older brother Tevita and sisters Mela and Sereana.

When Lote was four years old, his family moved to Australia. They settled in Sunnybank, Queensland, a suburb of Brisbane. This is where he started playing competitive sports. He played rugby league for the Souths Sunnybank Rugby League club. He also went to Sunnybank State High School.

Professional Rugby League Career

Lote Tuqiri started his professional career with the Brisbane Broncos. He also played for the Past Brothers team in the Queensland Cup.

Starting with the Broncos

In 1999, Lote won the "rookie of the year" award for the Brisbane Broncos. By 2000, he had a regular spot in the team. At the end of the 2000 season, Lote played on the wing for the Broncos. He scored a try in their big win against the Sydney Roosters in the 2000 NRL Grand Final.

After this, he traveled to England. He was the captain of the Fiji national team for the 2000 Rugby League World Cup. Fiji did not get past the first round, but Lote was their best try and goal scorer.

Playing for Queensland and Australia

In 2001, the Broncos played against the English champions, St Helens, in the 2001 World Club Challenge. Lote played on the wing, but Brisbane lost the game.

Lote was chosen to play for Queensland in the 2001 State of Origin series. He played in all three games and scored Queensland's first try. Queensland won the series, and Lote played very well. That same year, he also played for Australia. He scored a try in Australia's win against New Zealand.

Lote was the Broncos' top try-scorer in 2001 with 21 tries. This was the second-highest number of tries ever scored by a Brisbane player in one season. At the end of 2001, he went on a tour with the Australian team.

Final Years in League (First Time)

In 2002, Lote had another great season. He showed off his amazing strength and speed. In one game, he set a new club record for the most points scored by a single player. He was again the Broncos' top try-scorer, along with Darren Lockyer and Chris Walker.

He continued to play for both Queensland and Australia. In the 2002 State of Origin series, Lote played in all three games. He scored in each match, getting a total of 28 points. He even scored three tries in one game, which is called a hat-trick. At the 2002 Dally M Awards, he was named the best winger of the year.

After the 2002 season, Lote announced he would switch to rugby union. Because of this, he was not chosen for the end-of-season game against New Zealand.

Overall, Lote played 99 games for Brisbane from 1999 to 2002. He scored 260 points before moving to rugby union. His last game for the Broncos was a close loss to the Sydney Roosters.

Rugby Union Career

Lote's skills caught the eye of the Australian Rugby Union. At the end of 2002, he signed a contract to play rugby union for the New South Wales Waratahs starting in 2003.

Switching Codes and Wallabies Debut

Lote's move to rugby union was very successful. His speed and strength helped him get picked for the Wallabies. He made his international rugby union debut in June 2003 against Ireland. This made him the 43rd player to represent Australia in both rugby codes.

He was one of four former Queensland rugby league players who played in the top teams at the 2003 Rugby World Cup. He scored tries against Romania and Namibia. He also scored Australia's only try in the final against England. Lote was one of Australia's top try scorers in the tournament.

Later Years in Rugby Union

In 2004, Lote toured the United Kingdom and France with the Wallabies. In 2005, he played in the centre position because many other players were injured. In 2006, he played for Australia in the Rugby Sevens event at the 2006 Commonwealth Games. That year, his team, the Waratahs, reached the semi-finals of the Super 14 competition.

During the 2006 Tri Nations series, Lote was suspended for five games. This was because of a dangerous tackle on the All Blacks captain, Richie McCaw.

Tuqiri while playing for the Waratahs in 2007

There was a lot of talk in 2006-2007 about whether Lote would stay in rugby union or go back to rugby league. He had said he was thinking about returning to league after the 2007 Rugby World Cup. However, on March 13, 2007, he announced he would stay in rugby union for another five years.

His contract was supposed to keep him with the Waratahs and Wallabies until 2012. But on July 1, 2009, the Australian Rugby Union ended his contract early. This was due to a breach of team rules.

He then made his debut for the Leicester Tigers in England on November 6, 2009. His team won against the Springboks.

Return to Rugby League

Tuqiri playing for North Sydney Bears in 2014

In February 2010, Lote officially announced he was returning to rugby league after seven years. He signed a three-year deal with the Wests Tigers club. He came back to Australia early to play in the Tigers' first home game of the 2010 season. In his first game back, he scored a try with his very first touch of the ball! He scored at least one try in each of his first three games. His good form helped the Tigers get very close to the 2010 Grand Final.

In October 2010, Lote was chosen for the Australian squad for the 2010 Rugby League Four Nations tournament. He played in all four games, including the final, and scored one try. He became the first player to switch between rugby codes and then play for Australia in rugby league a second time.

The Wests Tigers made the semi-finals again in 2011. However, Lote suffered several injuries that year, including a broken arm. Injuries also affected his 2012 season. He broke his upper arm in July, which ended his season.

Before the 2013 season, Lote had another setback. Scans showed his broken arm had not healed properly. He had surgery to fix it. He finally returned to play in August 2013, playing four games in his last season with the Wests Tigers.

In September 2013, he signed a short contract with the Irish rugby union team, Leinster. He played in the Pro12 league for three months.

Joining the Rabbitohs and Retirement

On January 22, 2014, Lote signed a one-year deal with his third NRL club, the South Sydney Rabbitohs. Many thought his rugby league career was over after 2013. The Wests Tigers had not offered him a new contract because of his many injuries.

In May 2014, Lote played for Fiji in the 2014 Pacific Rugby League International. He kicked two goals and scored a try, but Fiji lost the game. Lote turned 35 during the 2014 season, making him the oldest player in the NRL at that time.

On October 5, 2014, Lote was part of the South Sydney team that won the 2014 NRL Grand Final. They defeated the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 30–6. This was Lote's second NRL title, as he had also won one with the Brisbane Broncos earlier in his career.

Family Connections

Lote Tuqiri has a cousin who is also named Lote Tuqiri. His cousin is a Fijian-born Japanese Rugby Sevens player.

See also

In Spanish: Lote Tuqiri para niños

• List of players who have converted from one football code to another