Add Category
Queensland Reds captain James Horwill will move to Harlequins> Picture: Claudia Baxter Source: News Corp Australia
QUEENSLAND Reds and former Wallabies captain James Horwill has confirmed he will quit the game in Australia following the World Cup next October.
In what is expected to be the first of many announcements of Wallabies moving to British, French or Japanese clubs following the World Cup, Horwill told a press conference today he had signed a three-year deal with English Premiership giants Harlequins.
Almost certainly his announcement means the Reds will move to replace him as captain this season but with Will Genia also expected to confirm that he has signed a post-World Cup deal with Bath, it might well be that Wallabies vice-captain James Slipper steps up to the job.
Horwill, who has 107 state caps and 58 for Australia, cemented his place in Queensland rugby history when he captained the Reds to their inaugural Super Rugby title in 2011. He then was named as captain of the Wallabies for the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand, leading Australia through to the semi-final against New Zealand.
But before he goes, Horwill will play his 10th Super Rugby season out of Ballymore, with the Reds viewed once again as title contenders after recruiting All Blacks flanker Adam Thomson, cross-code convert Karmichael Hunt and Wallabies utility James O’Connor.
“The Reds have been my life for many years. I grew up supporting them, I’ve had the honour of representing Queensland on over 100 occasions and also the privilege of captaining my State, including winning the Super Rugby title — a night I will never forget.
“As hard as it will be to leave Ballymore, my teammates, the staff and all my fans and friends in Queensland, I’ve been offered a fantastic opportunity with Harlequins to experience Rugby in another part of the world and this is right for me at this stage of my Rugby career. I’m completely committed to helping the Reds and Australia achieve success in this World Cup year and then I’ll turn my attention to the next chapter of my life in Rugby with Harlequins,†Horwill said.
Queensland Rugby CEO Jim Carmichael paid tribute to Horwill as a player and a man and said he would be leaving the Reds at the end of the 2015 season with the blessing of the club and all its followers.