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Bullitt

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http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3...5778780,00.html

Salary cap to force Tuqiri out

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Due to financial restrictions Lote Tuqiri is unlikely to stay at Leicester Tigers next season according to the club's head of operations.

The former Wallaby wing arrived at Welford Road in November on a six-month deal, but an extension of his contract would push Tigers over the salary cap limit.

The Guinness Premiership champions were able to secure the services of the 67 Test veteran, who is set to make his seventh appearance for the club in Saturday's Heineken Cup clash with Clermont, thanks to an injury dispensation allowance after skipper Geordan Murphy was ruled out for four months with a shoulder surgery.

Clubs are allowed to break the £4, 4m salary cap if a player is out for three months or more and they sign a replacement.

But Leicester's head of operations Simon Cohen says that with Murphy set to return before the end of the season, Tigers will find it hard to hold on to Tuqiri considering the cost involved in keeping an international player of his standing.

"We would like to keep Lote because he is a world- class player. But he was brought in as an injury allowance under the salary cap as a replacement for Geordan Murphy for a certain period of time," Cohen told the Leicester Mercury.

"If that dispensation is not available for next year, it is going to be very difficult to find the money to keep him."

With Murphy and Kiwi full-back Scott Hamilton also out of contract at the end of the season and yet to sign new deals, Cohen said Tigers would be forced into the market if they could not get both men to stay.

"Both Geordan and Scott are out of contract and neither have re-signed yet," he added.

"We have got to cover our backs by looking to strengthen those areas in case they don't stay."
 

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