Leroy Houston signs with Bordeaux-Begles

Former Bath fan favourite Leroy Houston has signed for Top 14 side Bordeaux-Begles after requesting his Reds contract be terminated with the Super Rugby side.

The No.8 has signed a two-year deal with Bordeaux who are in a rebuilding phase after finishing 11th in the Top 14 table.

Leaving the club will be high-profile internationals such as Ian Madigan, Adam Ashley-Cooper, and Steven Kitshoff, with Bordeaux reverting to a more modest recruitment strategy.

Additions joining Houston in heading to the south of France for next season include Bulls fly-half Tian Schoeman and Grenoble forward Mahamadou Diaby.

Houston, 30, left Bath last spring to sign for the Reds in hope of furthering his chances at a first-ever cap for the Wallabies.

He achieved his goal last October when London hosted the Rugby Championship clash between Australia and Argentina, replacing Lopeti Timani in a match the Wallabies won 33-21.

In a statement released by the Reds, head coach Nick Stiles commented: “Leroy has been a great contributor to the squad this year and while he has had injury concerns to contend with through the middle part of the Super Rugby campaign, we agreed to his request for an early release on personal grounds.”

Also leaving the 2011 Super Rugby champions will be second row international Rob Simmons.

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Tagged Bath, Bordeaux-Begles, Leroy Houston, Reds