Lock forward James Horwill is out of the Wallabies' November tour of Europe with a foot injury, the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) said on Friday.

The Reds' second row forward was forced to withdraw after continuing problems with an injured ligament in his left foot, the ARU said.

No decision has yet been made on his tour replacement.

Horwill has been troubled with the injury since the Wallabies' 16-9 win over South Africa at Perth in July.

A team spokesman said while Horwill, 23, has been able to play on with the injury an investigation of the recurrent pain revealed a tear of the ligament which requires surgery.

The diagnosis was confirmed after Horwill was checked by a specialist in Brisbane on Friday.

"Unfortunately, the verdict of the specialist was that James is going to require surgery immediately to get the ligament repaired," Wallabies' coach Robbie Deans said.

"And that means having to forgo the opportunity to participate on our tour."

Horwill is facing a rehabilitation period following the surgery that could last for up to six months, throwing his return to the Reds in doubt until possibly midway through next year’s Super 14 series.

Horwill was one of just four players to start in every Test match for the Wallabies this year in his first full international season and was only off the field for 44 minutes of the Wallabies' Test campaign.

He ended the domestic Test programme as the joint-top try-scorer with four, alongside centre Ryan Cross.

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