The ARU has seen fit to terminate Lote Tuqiri's contract for as yet unknown reasons. Reportedly, Lote's extrememly expensive contract was due to run until 2012. One would find it hard to believe that Lote's dropping from the Wallabies squad has not played a role in this decision.

One key factor yet to be noticed is that the ARU has deemed it fit to take this action on 1 July. In what could only be a coincidence, this happens to be the day after the registration deadline in the NRL.

I think there is going to be very little to this action other than a bold attempt by the ARU to save itself significant money and prevent a publicity coup by the NRL. We await further details.