Twelve months ago, Randalstown native Bruce Houston was unsure of his rugby future.
Plying his trade in the English Championship after a nomadic five years on the rugby circuit, he had long-since given up on an international dream with Ireland.
Fast-forward a year, however, and Bruce has earned a dream move to France and helped his international teammates secure a place at Rugby World Cup 2027 in Australia.
But those teammates will not be from these shores, because the former Ballymena Academy man is now an adopted son of Zimbabwe, and this is his story of a whirlwind summer of 2025.
First, we can go back to where it all started for a young Houston, and life could have been so different for the young fly-half.
Rugby was in his DNA, courtesy of his maternal grandfather, and from a young age it was with his beloved Randalstown club and the white of Ulster where his ambitions lay.
“I suppose rugby was all I ever wanted to play from about the age of eight,” says Houston, who himself is a down-to-earth engaging character.
“It probably came from my papa. He had travelled with the family when he was younger.
“First, to New Zealand where he played for Waikato, which would now be the Chiefs Super Rugby side, and then onto Zimbabwe where my mum was born, and that is the connection for my eligibility there.
“They eventually settled back home here and I joined Randalstown, a club I love and where I still help out when I can.
“I still have fond memories of practising my kicking there and nearby kids would swing by just to put me off, I think it was the best kicking practice I ever had!
“I then went to the Academy and played for the first team throughout. It was a competitive rugby school but I managed to flourish there.
“I was then called up to Ulster underage sides and even played for Ireland at an U18 level, so for me that was the natural path my career was going to take.”
However, such is the life of a sports player, things don’t always work out, and after just one appearance for the senior side, Ulster told Houston he would be released.
“It was heartbreaking,” he admitted.
“I was in that professional bubble and then nothing. It was a good learning curve though and it brought you down to earth if you needed grounding.
“I took on a manual job for a month of two in south Down, but it was challenging trying to juggle that with keeping in good shape and trying to find a club, but thankfully after a few months a move to Edinburgh materialised.”
After a couple of seasons playing in Scotland’s second tier and training with Edinburgh, Houston got the news once more that he was not going to be offered a new contract, so his journey continued to English Championship side Ealing Trailfinders in London for a short term contract, before he was picked up by the Cornish Pirates in the same league.
“I felt like I was constantly living out of a suitcase. So, after I signed for the Pirates, I had to pack up my base in Edinburgh and do the 12-hour drive to Penzance,” the 25-year-old said.
“Cornwall is extremely remote and that took me a while getting used to, but I probably played the best rugby of my life in those two years.
“Then, I got a call to say French third-tier side US Bressane were interested in offering me a three-year deal and it was too good an opportunity to turn down.
“That was around February of this year, and about the same time I was out for a few drinks with my Pirates colleague Matthew McNabb who plays for Zimbabwe, and I jokingly told him how I was qualified to play for them also,” Houston explained.
“He went to the national coach and then I got a call to say they really wanted me to travel over.
“I was flattered, but I initially said no as I wanted to spend my time settling into France.
“But, to my surprise my new coach in France was very supportive of the idea and so I reconsidered and contacted the Zimbabwe coach.”
Things moved fast for the new fly-half as only three weeks ago he notified Zimbabwe of his intention to play in the upcoming Rugby Africa Cup.
The next night he was leaving his new teammates in France to fly from Geneva, via Ethiopia to Uganda, where the tournament was held, and the rest is, as they say, history.
“It has been a crazy, surreal last few weeks,” admitted Houston, who is now home for a well-earned break.
“I arrived in time for the semi-final of the tournament and was a substitute.
“To make matters worse I have a gluten intolerance and Uganda wasn’t great for that, so I ended up with a severe stomach issue and was on a drip between the semi-final and final.
“Thankfully, I recovered to make a substitute appearance in that final where we defeated arch-rivals Namibia 30-28 in Kampala.
“I was so proud lifting that trophy and was so well received by the other members of the squad.
“I couldn’t drink afterwards to join the celebrations, and I had a flight to catch back to France, but I think my mum did the celebrating for me back in Northern Ireland.”
Houston will find out Zimbabwe’s World Cup opponents after the Autumn International series but will be starstruck as it is likely they will face at least one of the world’s top teams.
“I still can’t believe I may get the chance to line out against the likes of Beauden Barrett of New Zealand, and I am intent of taking every opportunity I can get.”
For a man that has never set foot in Zimbabwe, but holds the expectations of a nation on his six-foot four-inch frame, I don’t doubt him for a moment.