The Australian Rugby Union Players' Association has appointed a Queen's Counsel to lead an investigation into the termination of Lote Tuqiri's Wallabies contract.
John Spender QC, a a former MP and government ambassador, will conduct the investigation on RUPA's behalf.
RUPA chief executive Tony Dempsey says the inquiry will look at whether the Australian Rugby Union and the NSW Rugby Union followed proper process when it sacked 67-Test veteran Tuqiri halfway through a five-year contract.
Tuqiri's disputed sacking is heading to the courts, with the first hearing expected to take place late next week.
The ARU's not revealed the reasons for Tuqiri's sacking, but chief executive John O'Neill said that the winger had received a letter two years ago warning that further contract breaches would not be tolerated.
