James Horwill’s love of Queensland may persuade him to reject lucrative deal with Harlequins

THE love of playing for Queensland may be the factor that keeps Wallaby lock James Horwill in Australian rugby after next year’s World Cup.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - MAY 30: James Horwill of the Reds celebrates victory after team mate Jake Schatz scores after the siren to win the match after the round 16 Super Rugby match between the Reds and the Highlanders at Suncorp Stadium on May 30, 2014 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

THE love of playing for Queensland may be the factor that keeps Wallaby lock James Horwill in Australian rugby after next year’s World Cup.

British media has reported that Horwill, who will start for Australia against France in Paris on Sunday morning, has already committed to a $540,000 a season deal with English club Harlequins, but the former Test skipper says nothing has been decided.

And when he does balance his options, the importance he places on playing for Queensland will weigh heavily.

At a time when Australia’s professional rugby players sign up with ‘franchises’, and Super Rugby teams are known by brand names rather than geographical areas, it is significant that as Horwill speaks he never once refers to the ‘Reds,’ only Queensland.

James Horwill playing for the Queensland Reds.

“I have a lot of passion playing for my country but I also have a lot of passion playing for Queensland,” he said. “I feel very privileged to play for my state. That’s the way I look at it.

“I’m very lucky to do that and to do it for so long.”

Horwill’s boyish enthusiasm when he first came to the Reds in 2007 earned him the nickname ‘Big Kev’ after the “I’m excited” TV spruiker. He led the team to the Super Rugby title in 2011.

Now 29 years of age and about to play his 58th Test, Horwill is seen as an obvious target for overseas clubs, but says he will not make any decision on his future until after the current tour ends at the end of the month.

“I guess one of the great things about rugby is the opportunity to play in different parts of the world but it’s not something that is in the forefront of my mind right now,” he said.

James Horwill has been recalled to the Wallabies’ starting side to play France.

“It’s something I’ll focus on more when I’ve got time to sit down and think about it. Right now I’m purely focused on these three weeks and getting three wins for the team.”

Horwill dismissed reports that there would be a flood of Wallaby players heading to clubs in Europe or Japan after the World Cup.

“There won’t a mass exodus but each individual has got a decision to make,” he said. “The Wallaby jumper is still it; playing for your country is as high as you can go. You can’t play for the world, you can’t play for the universe. You can only play for your country and that jumper is a very prized possession for all of us players.

“That is something I look at whether I’m playing for my country or playing for Queensland. It is certainly something I take a lot of pride in doing.”

He says he hopes to have his future decided before the start of Super Rugby in February.

“That would be the ultimate,” he said.

Originally published as James Horwill’s love of Queensland may persuade him to reject lucrative deal with Harlequins