Wallabies backrower Lukhan Tui has confirmed he will prioritise family and not return from a break to play on the Spring Tour.
Tui stood down from Wallabies duty after the side's defeat to Argentina in September, after losing his step-father in the week of the game.
The big backrower played the game in his step-father's memory but his raw emotions were evident when Tui became embroiled in an ugly scuffle with an abusive fan post-match.
Tui informed the Wallabies he planned to take the rest of the year off to support his family, although coach Michael Cheika said the door was always open for him to change his mind and return to the squad for the upcoming tour of Japan and Europe.
In social media posts on Friday, however, Tui confirmed he will not be returning and instead will stay in Australia to be with his no.1 priority - his family.
"I’ve always been & forever will be #FamilyOverEveything, hence the choices I’ve made," Tui wrote.
“Stepping away from the game of rugby for the remainder of the year is a decision that is for my siblings and for my Mum. Rugby will always be there & at the end of the day it is only just a game.
“Because there’s honestly no atmosphere, experience, money or jersey that could ever separate me from doing what I love and that’s looking after my family.
“This is also to show my younger siblings that Family is truely (sic) above everything and setting an example for them to follow.
“This isn’t about putting myself last, it’s about putting them first which has always been the case. 1 month ago my family and I lost our Dad. He raised my siblings & I to be the people we are today and set the perfect example that we live by.
— Lukhan Tui (@LukhanTui) October 12, 2018
“He made my dream of playing rugby come true and taught me how to be a man and further to that a family man.
“This is something I’m humbled by and will forever be grateful for.
“I have a young family and I’m now the man of out home, I have self-expectations and a role to play that not many people can relate to or ever understand.
“My purpose in life has always been to make my family proud and to ensure that they are safe.
“Rugby is only a game and my family is everything to me.
“In saying that, I’ll be back next year to continue playing ruby for my Dad, Qld and hopefully for Australia again.
“Until then I will be contributing to helping finish what my dad started.
"I LOVE YOU DAD”.
