NEWPORT Rugby Club insist they have received full and proper clearance from the Welsh Rugby Union on the transfers of Jason Strange and Mike Voyle.

A Union spokesman said on Friday they would look into transfers of the type made by Strange who arrived at Rodney Parade via Pontypool after quitting Ebbw Vale a few weeks ago.

And there was also confusion over the sudden switch of Voyle, who had moved to New Zealand after leaving Cardiff at the end of last season.

Voyle's decision to join Newport on a three-month contract was exclusively reported in Saturday's Argus after the approach had been made a week earlier.

Voyle arrives back at Rodney Parade, where he played earlier in his career, today after the long flight from New Zealand.

The 22-times capped forward is a specialist in the middle of the line-out which is just what Newport need in the absence of Ian Gough, out for at least another month with a damaged shoulder.

But any queries over the transfer of Voyle and Strange have been firmly answered by Newport.

"We have had clarification from the WRU that Mike and Jason are both fully registered with Newport," said team manager Jim McCreedy.

Newport expect centre Andy Marinos to be fit for Saturday's opener after leaving the field with an ankle injury in Friday's friendly against Aberavon.

Voyle made 58 appearances for Newport between 1992-95 before moving on to Llanelli and then Cardiff.

First published on Monday 20 August 2001: