Super Rugby
Horwill omitted from Reds touring squad
ESPN Staff
April 5, 2015
Rebels 23-15 Reds (video available in Australia only)

James Horwill has been left out of the Reds South African touring squad despite only being suspended for one week. Queensland Reds coach Richard Graham has named a 27-man touring squad that will take on the Bulls and the Cheetahs, with Quade Cooper and Jake Shatz missing the tour through injury.

Horwill was suspended for one week after he received a red card for striking during the Reds first loss to the Rebels in Melbourne and has been omitted from the touring squad with Tom Murdy named as his replacement.

Robb Simmons is set to play his first Super Rugby game in 2015 after he was sidelined with a shoulder injury in November.

"It has been a frustrating injury for Rob," Graham said. "He hasn't played a game now since late November last year. The nature of nerve injuries is that putting a timeline on their recovery can prove difficult. The staff and he have worked together very well to ensure they get the process right and Rob can return confident in his body."

"He has trained fully with the team for some time now. He is bouncing around and looks fresh having had an enforced spell from the week in, week out nature of the game."

Making his return for the Reds on Friday night, Cooper will now miss another eight weeks after he fractured his scapula during the Reds' loss, while Shatz will miss four weeks after he ruptured his elbow tendon.

"As I said yesterday, it's disappointing to lose Jake and Quade to injury, but we have had a number of young players gain experience early on in our Super Rugby campaign and are confident they are capable of delivering what we need on this tour," Graham said.

"Adam (Korczyk), James (Tuttle) and Tom (Murday) have been training with the main squad throughout the season and have benefitted from being around the group. They are young, but have been impressive and certainly deserve this opportunity."

Reds touring squad: Ben Daley, Greg Holmes, Sef faagase, James Slipper (C), Sam Talakai, Saia Fainga'a, James Hanson, Marco Kotze, Dave McDuling, Tom Murday, Rob Simmons, Curtis Browning, Liam Gill, Adam Korczyk, Adam Thomson, Nick Frisby, Will Genia, James Tuttle, Anthony Fainga'a, Chris Feauai-Sautia, Sam Kerevi, Ben Tapuai, Karmichael Hunt, Chris Kuridrani, Campbell Magnay, James O'Connor, Lachie Turner

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