Taulima Tautai to return home after leaving Wigan

Drew Darbyshire

Taulima Tautai will return home to Australia immediately after leaving Wigan by mutual consent.

Earlier this month, the 31-year-old pleaded guilty to driving while almost double the legal alcohol limit at Wigan and Leigh Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, June 12.

Tautai was banned from driving for 18 months and fined £1,200. He has not played for the Warriors since their Magic Weekend defeat to Warrington at Anfield on May 25.

And following an internal investigation by Wigan, the club and Tautai have agreed to part company.

Warriors executive director, Kris Radlinski, commented: “After a series of conversations with Taulima, it was mutually decided that he will leave the club with immediate effect after five-years at Wigan Warriors.

“Taulima and his family expressed their wish to return to Sydney immediately to be closer to their extended family and we have facilitated that wish.

“We’d like to thank Taulima for his efforts at Wigan and we wish him and his family well for the future.”

Tautai added: “I would like to say that I am grateful to Wigan Warriors for the opportunity that they have given my family and I for the past five years to live out my passion of playing rugby league.

“After achieving great success at the Warriors I feel that the time is right for me to take my family home.

“This decision has not been an easy one to make but I feel it is the right decision for my family, and I am very appreciative of the compassion shown by Ian Lenagan and Kris Radlinski whilst we have reached this agreement.”

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