Reds star becomes a Rebel
The Melbourne Rebels on Friday boosted their forward pack with the acquisition of Wallabies flank Scott Higginbotham from defending Super Rugby champion Reds.
The Rebels said they had signed the 11-Test flank in a two-year deal, with Higginbotham to join the club for the 2013 season.
Higginbotham, 25, has 59 Super Rugby caps and was an ever-present member of the Reds team that won the 2011 Super Rugby title, finishing the season as their leading try-scorer.
"Scott's a current Test player who we're confident will add to the culture of the Melbourne Rebels," head coach Damien Hill said.
"He's had an exciting last couple of seasons where he's proved to be an aggressive, hard-working player, excelling as a ball-runner with the versatility of covering positions at No.6 and No.8.
"We believe Scott is a player whose best football is in front of him, he is without doubt a player on the rise, and we're all very excited about the news he will be joining us next season."
The athletic Higginbotham played his first Test for the Wallabies from the bench against France in 2010 before getting his first start in the 2011 Tri-Nations victory over South Africa in Durban.
He was a member of the Wallabies squad that finished in third place at last year's World Cup in New Zealand.
Higginbotham joins fellow Wallabies, James O'Connor and Kurtley Beale, at the Rebels.
The Reds will farewell their championship-winning flank at the end of the season.
Reds coach Ewen McKenzie said he wished Higginbotham all the best in the future.
"It's obviously going to be disappointing to see Scott leave us at the end of the season, he has been a great servant of Queensland Rugby and has given his all to the team during his time here," McKenzie said.
"Over the past few years Scott has grown from being a raw talent into a World Cup Wallaby and we're proud to have played a role in his development and his ability to command big offers.
"In the end, we will continue to make responsible financial decisions, and we won't compete with some of the extraordinary offers out there.
"Players have to make a decision about what is important to them and the majority of our players want to remain with the Reds.
"I'm now looking forward to the challenge of finding and developing the next Wallaby standard back row forward.
"Queensland Rugby offers their best wishes to Scott at the Rebels next year."
