Queensland Reds head coach Phil Mooney has named Sam Cordingley as the club's new captain.
Roe stands down after three years as skipper
Queensland Reds head coach Phil Mooney has announced the appointment of scrum-half Sam Cordingley as the club's new captain.
Cordingley succeeds John Roe, who has led the side for the past three seasons.
Mooney and Roe announced the change to the team at Reds' training on Monday, after meeting to discuss the team's options for getting their Super 14 season back on course.
Roe told the players the decision had been made with the best interests of the team in mind.
"Phil and I discussed it this morning and agreed that a change of leadership was in the best interests of the team," Roe said.
Honour
"It has been a great honour to captain Queensland and I look forward to continuing to serve the team and Queensland Rugby in whatever capacity I can," he added.
Mooney congratulated Cordingley on his appointment and thanked Roe for his contribution as leader over three difficult years.
"John Roe has held the side together through the tough times and carried a larger share of the burden than should reasonably be asked of any single player," said Mooney.
"We have taken this difficult decision now because we believe it can help re-focus John and the team in their pursuit of success in 2008," he explained.
Roe took over the captaincy at a troubled time for the Reds in April 2005 when Elton Flatley was forced to retire and stand-in captain Nathan Sharpe announced he was leaving the side.
He has captained the Reds in 36 of his 101 matches for the franchise in his career so far.
Roe made his debut in 1999 and has scored 100 points for Queensland and 80 points in Super Rugby. He was voted Reds Team Man of the Year in 2007.
Cordingley has played 53 matches for Queensland since making his debut in 1999 after a season at the Brumbies.
He moved to the northern hemisphere in 2003, playing three seasons in France and the UK before returning to Brisbane in 2006. He was a Wallaby tourist to the Rugby World Cup in France in 2007.
