James Horwill has been suspended for one match following his red card against the Rebels on Friday night. Horwill was sent from the field in the 21st minute after he struck Rebels player Paul Alo-Emile in the head with a swinging arm, receiving a red card - his second for the season.

The former Wallabies skipper faced SANZAR Duty Judicial Officer Nicholas Davidson QC on Saturday morning and pleaded guilty to striking his Rebels opponent. He faces a one week ban leaving him available for the Reds for their second match on their two week tour of South Africa.

"I found this was a strike with a swinging arm to the back of neck of Rebels player, Paul Alo-Emile," Judicial Officer Nicholas Davidson QC said in his findings. "The explanation that the arm was used to gain momentum at the breakdown was not tenable. There was no attempt to engage.

"Horwill has attracted media attention in the disciplinary context but his actual transgressions are few despite over 100 Super Rugby games and 59 Test matches for Australia.

"He had one off field yellow card [now Citing Commissioner Warning[ in 2013 and came before the SANZAR Judiciary in 2015 for two yellow cards in the same match for technical breaches. Nothing was added for aggravating factors and in mitigation, he is entitled to some allowance for his acceptance of the indicated sanction and his recognition that this was clearly unacceptable for which he apologised to the Rebels player and also during the hearing.

"In the circumstances, the two-week entry point is reduced to one week and Horwill is suspended up to and including Saturday 11 April 2015."

The 29-year-old will miss the Reds first tour match against the Bulls next Saturday, but will be available for their second match against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.