Super Rugby
Horwill regains Reds captaincy
ESPNscrum Staff
January 18, 2011
James Horwill addresses his Reds team-mates, Western Force v Queensland Reds, Super 14 trial match, ME Stadium, Perth, Australia, February 5, 2010.
James Horwill will lead the Reds in 2011 © Getty Images
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James Horwill has regained the Queensland Reds captaincy prior to the forthcoming Super Rugby season, with Will Genia installed as vice captain.

Genia admirably led the franchise to a surprise fifth place finish in 2010 while Horwill recuperated from a serious knee injury but coach Ewen McKenzie has opted to hand the reins back to the Wallabies lock in a show of loyalty.

"He [Horwill] did nothing wrong on or off the field - we have to show some loyalty," McKenzie told AAP. "Will did a great job stepping in. But what do you want from a vice-captain when the captain is not on the field - you want him to step up and do the business and he did that very well.

"He picked up a lot of experience and kudos from that process and his captaincy days aren't finished at all - there will be opportunities as we go along."

Genia recently admitted that he wanted to keep the armband this season but was gracious when accepting McKenzie's decision. The 23-year-old does not believe that the captaincy played a part in his brilliant campaign last year alongside Quade Cooper, a partnership that was later carried through to Test level.

"I have a lot of respect for Ewen McKenzie as a person and a coach so...it made the decision a lot easier to take," Genia said. "It is not something that will bother me.

"I really enjoyed it, but I don't think it played a role in me having a good season. And that's why I don't think it is something that will take away from my game. Obviously I was a little disappointed but I think he deserved the job."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

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