18 Jun 2012

Wallabies skipper likely to be out for rest of the year

6:38 pm on 18 June 2012

The Australia rugby captain James Horwill is likely to miss the rest of the season.

He needs surgery on the hamstring injury which has forced him to miss the current series against Wales.

Horwill suffered the injury in his final Super Rugby match before the test window.

He'll have the operation on Tuesday.

The 27-year-old Horwill took over from Rocky Elsom as Wallabies captain in a shock move before Australia's departure for last year's World Cup having led the Queensland Reds to their first Super Rugby title.

His absence for the rest of the season would mean he'll miss the inaugural Rugby Championship, which replaces the Tri-Nations from this year with the addition of Argentina.

Horwill's replacement as captain, David Pocock, has led Australia to victory in the first two of three tests against Six Nations champions Wales after being upset by Scotland in their opening test of the year.