JAMES Hook will return “home” to the Ospreys next season after six years away.

The 31-year-old Gloucester fly-half has signed a three-year contract with the Welsh regional side that will take effect once the current campaign ends.

Hook, capped 81 times by Wales, left the Ospreys for a lucrative move to Perpignan in 2011, and moved on to Gloucester three years later. Now he is ready to return to the team where he began his senior career, and for which he is the second highest points scorer.

Hook said: “I’m delighted to be going back home next summer.

“It’s been fantastic to go away to new places, get some unbelievable experiences in England and France with two great clubs, but I’m coming home to a team that’s going places, with good coaches who I know well and a quality squad with some world-class players and really exciting young talent.

“It’s good for me personally, as a rugby player, and it’s the right thing for my family, to be coming home.

“I always planned, or hoped, that I’d come back but six years is a long time. A lot has changed in that time and anything could have happened. I’m grateful, and fortunate, that I’m getting this opportunity.

“It’s important I finish well at Gloucester. It’s a great club with some great people involved and they’ve been really good to me. I’ve enjoyed my time with the club and I want to end on a high there to say thank you for that, before I can focus on the new challenge at the Ospreys.”

He added: “I don’t think I’m finished yet. I’m only 31, I’m playing week in, week out with Gloucester and I think I’ve got plenty to give on the field for a few years to come.

“The Ospreys are ambitious, they are creating strength in depth, and that suits me.”

Head coach Steve Tandy is pleased to have another quality option in his back line, with Hook able to play in midfield and full-back as well as being a deputy at fly-half for the Wales pair of Dan Biggar and Sam Davies.

“Having him next season will obviously increase our strength in depth in the backline, which is crucial if we want to be successful,” said Tandy.

“We’ve seen this season that you can never have too much depth. We’ve seen Dan and Sam away contesting for a Wales shirt over the last month and that’s likely to be the case for some time going forward.

“The beauty of James is he can, and does, play to an exceptionally high standard in so many different positions. There’ll definitely be a number of different roles for him within the squad.

“As an experienced international he will provide good competition and support for the two 10s, but not only that, he is capable of playing 12, 13 and 15 to the very highest level. He’s really comfortable with that, which is why he’s such a great signing for us and we’re really happy to have him here.”