SYDNEY (Reuters) - Winger Vinaya Habosi, who had an outstanding debut season for Fijian Drua last year, was sacked by the Super Rugby team on Tuesday for a "high level" breach of their code of conduct.
The 23-year-old former firefighter, whose pace and power made him a handful for defences throughout his first campaign and earned him a Fiji call-up, had his contract terminated with immediate effect.
"The decision was made after careful consideration, and full due process was accorded to Vinaya throughout the process," the club said in a statement.
"The Fijian Drua will not comment further on this matter."
The loss of Habosi, who carried for the fifth highest number of metres in Super Rugby last year, is a major blow to the Drua just a couple of weeks before the start of the new campaign.
Media reports had linked Habosi with a move to a French club at the end of the Super Rugby season.
(Reporting by Nick Mulvenney, editing by Christian Schmollinger)