The importance of Scott Higginbotham has been made crystal clear by Reds coach Brad Thorn, who has named his captain as part of a 27-man touring party that will face the Jaguares and Stormers in the next fortnight.
The Reds departed for Buenos Aires via Sydney and Brazil this morning, with Thorn picking the same 23 players that featured in Saturday's win over the Bulls and adding Higginbotham, new signing Ruan Smith, outcast hooker Andrew Ready and veteran Ben Lucas to his squad.
Higginbotham will serve the final week of his suspension when the Reds face the Jaguares this time next week but he will be available to face the Stormers.
Lukhan Tui, who was also set to return in Cape Town, has been left at home, with the Reds not wanting to carry two players on the tour that couldn't play the first match.
SQUAD
Reds squad for tour of Argentina, South Africa
Props
Sef Fa’agase – University of Queensland
James Slipper – Bond University
JP Smith - GPS
Ruan Smith - GPS
Taniela Tupou - Brothers
Hookers
Alex Mafi – Bond University
Brandon Paenga-Amosa - Sunnybank
Andrew Ready - Easts
Locks
Kane Douglas - Norths
Harry Hockings – University of Queensland
Izack Rodda - Easts
Back row
Scott Higginbotham - Wests
Adam Korczyk – University of Queensland
Angus Scott-Young – University of Queensland
Caleb Timu - Souths
Liam Wright - Easts
Scrumhalves
Tate McDermott – University of Queensland
James Tuttle - GPS
Flyhalves
Jono Lance – University of Queensland
Hamish Stewart – Bond University
Centres
Chris Feauai-Sautia - Souths
Samu Kerevi - Souths
Duncan Paia’aua - Norths
Outside backs
Filipo Daugunu - Wests
Ben Lucas - Sunnybank
Eto Nabuli - GPS
Aidan Toua – Easts
