‘No contact from Cheika on Houston’ – Bath

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BATH, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 05: Leroy Houston of Bath Rugby is tackled by Bill Meakes of Gloucester Rugby during the Aviva Premiership match between Bath Rugby and Gloucester Rugby at the Recreation Ground on February 5, 2016 in Bath, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

Bath forwards coach Neal Hatley has denied that the Australian Rugby Union has contacted the club about signing back-row Leroy Houston.

Wallabies head coach Michael Cheika has revealed that he is keen to talk to several Australians playing overseas who he would like to see return to Australia to play Super Rugby, and Houston is one of them.

“You have a classic case in point there in a guy like Leroy Houston,” Cheika told Australia’s Daily Telegraph.

“The guy was in and out of different franchises and he has gone over and killed it with Bath in the last year or two. There are lots of players like that.”

But Hatley saidneither Cheika or the ARU have contacted the Premiership club about signing Houston, who is well loved at Bath.

“He’s not only been a standout player for Bath over two or three seasons, but also a standout in the league, so you can see exactly why someone like Michael Cheika would be interested in trying to get him back,” Hatley told the Bath Chronicle.

“But Roy’s contracted for this year, he’s got another year to go and we’d like him to stay beyond that. We love him here.

“He’s been an unbelievable addition to our squad and to the club.

“No-one’s been in contact.

“It’s a statement their coaches put out there and everybody’s read.

“He’s of unbelievable value to us, not just as a player but also as a person.”