Sacked Wallabies winger Lote Tuqiri is in talks with the French Top 14 side Bayonne.

However, the south-western French outfit dismissed reports that the 67-test veteran - who scored Australia's try in the heartbreaking 2003 World Cup final defeat to England - was about to sign a deal.

This follows reports in Australia on Tuesday that the player would fly to France to ink a contract next week.

The report, which did not cite sources, said Tuqiri was originally approached by Bayonne last year but at the time was under contract to the Australian Rugby Union and the NSW Waratahs.

The ARU ditched him last month for undisclosed reasons mid-way through a five-year contract, and Tuqiri is taking his former employer to court.

The Australian newspaper believes Bayonne would be able to match the previous terms of the ARU contract reportedly worth $700,000 a year.