Queensland Rugby Union today announced loose forward Leroy Houston will join the Queensland Reds immediately after signing with the club until 2018.

Houston will be immediately available for selection for both the Reds and the Wallabies, after being released from the remaining year of his contract with English club Bath. He has returned to Australia this week.

The 29-year-old has spent the last three seasons with Bath in the English Premiership, where he established a reputation as one of the competition’s most dominant loose forwards.

Originally from New Zealand, Houston moved to Australia as a teenager. He made his Super Rugby debut for the Reds in 2008 and played 46 games for Queensland overall. He was part of the Super Rugby title-winning squad in his final year with Queensland in 2011. He has also represented the Australian Under 19s, Under 21s and Australia A.

Houston said he was excited to return to Ballymore and Reds colours.

“Queensland and the Reds are my home, so there was no other choice when I decided to come back to Australia,” he said.

“I have awesome memories of my time at Ballymore. There’s a good bunch of young lads at the club and some really experienced players there too. I’m looking forward to getting back there and contributing to what they’re trying to build.

“I was there in 2008 when it was tough going, so I know what it’s like to experience that, but we won the title in my last year and hopefully I can share some of my experiences with the current group.

“There’s a lot of potential there and I can’t wait to be a part of it.”

Queensland Rugby Union Executive General Manager – Reds, Daniel Herbert, said: “We’ve been talking to Leroy for a long time and we are looking forward to welcoming him back to Ballymore. He has matured as a person and a player during his time overseas and brings a wealth of experience and a dynamic ball carrying ability to our team.

“Leroy has a strong desire to help the Reds reach their potential over the next few years and to play Test Rugby for the Wallabies. We will all be helping him achieve those ambitions.”