Bath Rugby switch is no problem for Leroy Houston

He may be yet to play a competitive game for Bath Rugby but life at The Rec is already pretty rosy for Leroy Houston.

Eight years ago, the New Zealand-born back rower was one of the hottest properties in Super Rugby with Waratahs and was called up to tour with Australia at the age of 18.

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   Bath Rugby newcomer Leroy Houston, right, during his first Rec outing for the club against Bristol

   
   

Although he missed out on a senior cap, he appeared for the Wallabies at age-group level before switching to Queensland Reds in 2008.

A three-year stay in Brisbane was crowned by lifting the 2011 Super Rugby title, after which Houston moved to Europe and French second-tier outfit Colomiers.

 

Language problems stalled his progress across the channel, though, and Houston, pictured, jumped at the chance to join Bath when the club approached him earlier this year.

And the 26-year-old says he could not believe his luck when he arrived for his first day of training at the club’s Farleigh House HQ.

“Bath is awesome, I absolutely love it here,” said Houston.

“I lived in Australia but was born and raised in New Zealand – I moved when I was 15 – and I have played in France. I’ve done a bit of travelling, I’ve seen a lot of training facilities but this is the best I’ve seen in the world.

“I drove in and thought ‘No, this isn’t real. Is this a Hogwarts for rugby players? What is this?’.

“I walked into the changing rooms and just couldn’t believe it. The gym, the castle, the fields – it’s immaculate.

“I was totally surprised when the club approached me. I didn’t know they were interested but was very, very happy when I found out they were.

“It was always very hard in France, especially with the language barrier. I learned a bit but it was quite frustrating as I couldn’t quite get out the communication I wanted, so it’s awesome to come back and speak English.”

Houston has had to hit the ground running at The Rec. He arrived while recovering from a torn bicep and has used pre-season to get to grips with the expected demands of the Aviva Premiership.

Having split his early career on opposite sides of the world, however, Houston hopes to have ended his globetrotting adventure for the foreseeable future.

“I’d like to stay here as long as possible because it’s such a fantastic place to be but we will have to wait and see,” said Houston.

“You have to roll with the punches and you can’t predict what’s around the corner but I am hoping for a good couple of years and then we will see after that.

“I knew about the Premiership and a lot of players from Super 15 come over to play here and in the Top 14.

“It’s a bit different and it’s a big change structure-wise. There’s more kicking and the physicality is a bit different as well. They are totally different competitions, playing style and even refereeing wise.

“Once I grasp all those – hopefully quickly – I’ll love it here even more.”

Bath Rugby switch is no problem for Leroy Houston