English club Harlequins in bid for James Horwill; Queensland Reds fight back
Former Wallabies skipper James Horwill is eyeing a rich career finale in English rugby after next year’s World Cup
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THE Reds are confident they can keep long-term skipper James Horwill in Queensland after next year’s Rugby World Cup despite rich overtures from English club Harlequins.
London’s The Mail on Sunday newspaper yesterday reported a $550,000-plus-a-year contract with Harlequins was almost a done deal with the former Wallabies captain after the showpiece tournament.
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Queensland Rugby Union chief executive Jim Carmichael last night said he’d been in discussions with Horwill about his future and was convinced he’d be wearing a red jersey in 2016.
“I can assure you James has not signed overseas for 2016,” Carmichael said.
“James and I are comfortable with our plans after next year’s World Cup.
“James and the QRU will together announce his long-term future at an appropriate time next year.”
What is certain is that Horwill has a tantalising choice to make entering his 10th season at the Reds.
An overseas venture to finish his distinguished career has always seemed certain at some stage.
His mum Jenny was born a few torpedo punts from Twickenham and he carries a British passport which has made an English club a likely destination.
The 56-Test lock has always staunchly declared himself a one-club man in Australian rugby.
He will be 30 and have built his 107-game career for Queensland to more than 120 appearances by finishing a full Super Rugby season next year.
When Horwill signed his latest two-year deal with the Reds in May last year the prospect of backflipping into his British heritage for 2016 was raised.
“Obviously, I want to be successful and win as much silverware as possible with both the Reds and Wallabies,” Horwill said at the time.
“Loyalty is important to me as a person. I cannot see myself playing for another Australian side . . . (but) playing overseas is something to consider down the track.’’
Joining England captain Chris Robshaw at Quins and playing at The Stoop in the western suburbs of London where his mother grew up will have strong appeal.
In English rugby, Horwill would get an up-close view of the progress of Bath’s Sam Burgess, their big signing from rugby league.
When Michael Cheika had a chat with a guy interested in playing rugby at the start of the year, he couldn’t have imagined the coffee might cost him a World Cup.
Firstly, he wasn’t yet the Wallabies coach and secondly, Burgess was still playing rugby league for Cheika’s favourite club, South Sydney.
With Australia and England due to meet in the pool stages of the World Cup on October 3, 2015, Burgess could well be lining up against the Wallabies.
“If he is playing for England when the time comes we will have to fire the lads up and get stuck into him because he is pretty unbreakable really,” Cheika said.
“He’s very passionate. Even though he comes from zero base he is going to do really well over there.
“We had several chats. He is a friend of my brother’s.
“I was very torn because obviously I am a Souths supporter too ... but I talked to him about rugby.”
Originally published as English club Harlequins in bid for James Horwill; Queensland Reds fight back