Bath have announced the signing of Australian No.8 Leroy Houston from French club Colomiers.

The 26-year-old was a member of the Queensland Reds squad crowned 2011 Super Rugby champions.

“Leroy is a guy I have admired for a long time, and we are delighted to have secured him,” Bath head coach Gary Gold said on Tuesday.

“He’s very dangerous with ball in hand and loves to hit hard in defence.”

The club has also signed Argentina Test prop Juan Pablo Orlandi, 29, from Paris-based Racing Metro, where he has spent the past three seasons.

“These are two very significant signings for Bath in that they say a lot about our ambition,” Gold said.