Embarrassed Queensland winger Digby Ioane has banned himself from Twitter and apologised for an impulsive sledge of New Zealand referee Keith Brown.

Ioane will make his return from a hairline facial fracture against the Melbourne Rebels on Friday night but is likely to do it after copping a SANZAR fine for labelling Brown as "the worst ref ever" on his Twitter account.

The Wallabies flyer made the tweet immediately after the Reds' 28-26 Super Rugby loss to the Hurricanes in controversial circumstances in Wellington on Saturday night.

A repentant Ioane attempted to close down his account early the following morning but could only remove the tweet after it had been commented on.

Super Rugby's governing body issued a please explain to Reds management on Monday and the in-form three-quarter is set to face an independently-chaired hearing via teleconference later this week.

If he is found to have breached rugby's code of conduct relating to criticising match officials, Ioane can be fined or suspended but previous rants against referees have resulted in heavy fines.

Former Reds coach Eddie Jones was slugged $10,000 for a prolonged attack on Matt Goddard's officiating in 2007 while Brumbies star Matt Giteau was fined $5000 last year for saying Steve Walsh needed to be relegated following a controversial loss to NSW.

Reds staff and coach Ewen McKenzie said Ioane, a strong Catholic, was deeply remorseful, had stopped using Twitter and also apologised through the correct channels.

Ioane's last post visible on his account was made on Saturday, before the Reds defeat.

"He realised the error of his ways and tried to rectify it as quickly as he could," McKenzie told AAP.

"Everyone well knows Digby is an impulsive bloke, and that's also the way he plays, (and) he's not a malicious person at all.

"His impulsiveness put it up there, and he's taken it down."

Ioane and loose-head prop Ben Daley (broken nose) have both been cleared to return for Friday night's clash at The Stockade in a major boost for third-placed Queensland.

McKenzie is also holding hope tight-head James Slipper can overcome his collarbone injury after both his and Daley's work-rate was sorely missed against the Hurricanes.

After resting four regulars on the bench in Wellington to freshen them up in an extended season, Anthony and Saia Faingaa, lock Rob Simmons and back-rower Radike Samo are all expected to start against the battling Rebels.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP