Leicester Tigers' Peter Wheeler shrugs off Lote Tuqiri's bad-boy reputation

Leicester Tigers' chief executive Peter Wheeler insists he is not worried about the bad-boy reputation of new signing Lote Tuqiri.

The winger, who arrived in Leicester on Saturday after agreeing a short-term contract, was sacked by Australia in July, halfway through a lucrative four-year contract.

While the Australian media speculated about the reasons, the Australian Rugby Union and Tuqiri's Super 14 team, the NSW Waratahs, refused to comment.

Tuqiri, 30, has had a colourful record since switching to union from league club Brisbane in 2003. It has been reported that he was fined $500 and given a two-match ban following an incident in Brisbane in 2005, and was sent home from a Wallabies training camp in 2007 for failing a fitness test.

In the same year, he was banned for two matches and fined $20,000 for failing to attend a team medical and registering an alcohol reading at a team breath test.

However, Wheeler says Leicester spoke to their contacts in Australia before signing a player who had also been a target for the likes of Toulon and London Irish.

And he insists the player who scored a try against England in the 2003 World Cup final, one of 30 in 67 Tests, is determined to prove he is still up there with the best.

He said: "We go more on the positive side with his ability. We feel we have a pretty robust environment here and we can help him.

"He has come here with his wife and children and he is in an environment where we have a lot of overseas players with their families too. He wants to show he is a world-class player and is still capable of performing at that level.

"We have got some good contacts in Australia who know him. We respect their opinions and our backs coach, Matt O'Connor knows him too. We are not concerned."

Tuqiri's signing was welcomed by two Tigers legends, former England scrum-half Austin Healey and ex England captain Paul Dodge.

Healey said: "I think he's a good signing. I have always admired him as a player.

"If he can stay fit and has still got the desire and hunger he will be a great asset."

Dodge said: "He's a good player. Obviously, he's had his problems. I don't know how fit he is but he's world class, a powerful runner, a bit like Alesana Tuilagi but probably a bit more of a footballer."

While Tuqiri has signed a short-term contract, Tigers are not saying at the moment when it ends, but he is thought to be joining Australian league side West Tigers next year.

He is being unveiled to the media today but, having not played for a while, he is unlikely to play in either of Leicester's games this weekend, the Friday clash with South Africa and Sunday's LV Cup tie against Neil Back's Leeds.

Tigers will name their side to face the Boks after learning who will be released by England.

It is thought Lewis Moody, Tom Croft, Dan Hipkiss and Jordan Crane will be in the squad to face Australia on Saturday, with Ben Kay and George Chuter being sent back to Leicester.

They will be able to select both props who played against Northampton, Marcos Ayerza and Martin Castrogiovanni, because they are not required to release them to Argentina and Italy respectively until next weekend.