HIGHLY rated ex-pat Leroy Houston is on the verge of signing a deal to return to the Queensland Reds for next season and could be sighted in Wallabies gold within months.
But Houston may not be the only prodigal son to return to Ballymore, with Quade Cooper deep in talks about coming home from France as well. The Reds are even pushing to get the whole band back together and are targeting Will Genia and Scott Higginbotham as well.
But it is Houston’s signing that will send shock waves across the world, with the 29-year-old a much-loved backrower at Bath.
Houston was visited in England by Michael Cheika in March when the Wallabies coach went on an European tour with a mission to encourage ex-pats to return to Australia, play Super Rugby and become eligible to play for the Wallabies.
Houston said he was “chuffed and flattered” to be recognised by Cheika and the sales pitch clearly worked.
The 115kg no.8 still has a year to run on his contract with Bath but the QRU — presumably with ARU help — has lured Houston back to the Reds.
