DUAL international winger Lote Tuqiri is returning to rugby union for a three-month stint with leading Irish club Leinster.

Tuqiri flew out from Sydney for Ireland on Monday night, two days after playing his last NRL game for Wests Tigers in the final round defeat to North Queensland which ended their season.

The 33-year-old Tuqiri is coming off contract with Wests Tigers and his playing future beyond his short-term deal with Leinster remains uncertain.

Tuqiri played 52 games for Wests Tigers in an NRL career spanning 151 games, and highlighted by premiership success with Brisbane Broncos, which was split by a seven-year stint in rugby union from 2003 to 2009 during which he earned 67 caps for the Wallabies, scoring 30 Test tries.

Returning to the NRL with the Tigers in 2010 he excelled in that's year's finals series and earned a Kangaroos squad recall for the Four Nations tournament.

However, injuries have blighted his career since, as he played just nine NRL games in 2011 and in 2012 an arm injury ended his season.

He only returned in round 23 this season.

"I've really enjoyed my time at Wests Tigers and will take with me a lot of special memories as well as many friendships I've made with the players and staff," Tuqiri said.

"My first year in 2010 was incredible. To come back from rugby and to achieve what I did was a great feeling.

"It was a great side to be a part of it but unfortunately we fell one game short of the grand final."

"I would just like to thank former coach Tim Sheens for giving me that opportunity to again play in the NRL. I also enjoyed working under Mick Potter this season."

Originally published as Tuqiri makes move to Irish rugby