OUTSIDE-half Jason Strange has revealed that the lure of European Cup rugby saw him finally join Newport.

The Wales A centre (pictured above) completed a controversial move from Pontypool to join the Black and Ambers yesterday - just two weeks after joining the First Division promotion hopefuls from Ebbw Vale.

And Newport's team manager Jim McCreedy is delighted, saying: "Jason brings a wealth of experience at premier division level. He is a Wales A cap, a proven goal-scorer and an accomplished outside-half.

"Jason will want to make that outside-half position his own and compete directly with Shane Howarth - and that competition will be for the club's well-being. He'll give us the depth we lacked last season."

Strange admitted the chance of playing European Cup rugby was a major factor in his decision to join the Rodney Parade club.

He smiled: "The Heineken Cup is the pinnacle of the northern hemisphere club game and Newport have a strong squad capable of doing well in the competition."

Strange is the third arrival at Newport this summer along with South African scrum-half Joost van der Westhuizen and Chris Anthony from Swansea.

The 27-year-old claimed he was was unwilling to go through another period of rebuilding at Eugene Cross Park.

He wanted to move to another top-flight side but Vale refused to transfer him to their fierce Welsh/Scottish League rivals - hence the move to Pooler.

There had been a lot of speculation about him joining the Principality Cup winners after he turned out for them in their pre-season friendly win against Bristol at The Memorial Ground on Sunday - as cover for Howarth.

Strange, a prolific try-scorer at Vale, added: "I realise I am going to have to play out of my skin to make it into the team but I have a lot of confidence in my ability and intend giving it everything."

"I am an ambitious player and fully recognise that in order to make the Wales set-up you have to be performing well at the top end of the game.

"Newport and the Heineken Cup gives me the opportunity to play in the shop window and the chance to play at Rodney Parade was one that I could not say no to." Newport are extremely professional in all that they do, both on and off the field and I am really looking forward to playing a part in their plans."

McCreedy added Newport approached Pontypool last week to ask if they would release Strange for the Bristol game - they agreed and he put in an "excellent all-round performance."

After the game, Strange made it clear to Newport bosses that he was interested in a full-time switch - and Celtic League outfit made and official approach to Pontypool earlier this week.

The two clubs agreed terms and Pontypool reluctantly let Strange go due to "commercial decisions."

Pontypool chief executive Bob Jude said: "Letting Jason go was a commercial decision. "We needed the funds from Jason's sale so we can buy new players to fill our weaker positions, we have plenty of cover at outside-half especially with Byron Hayward's arrival here."

Strange is a replacement in Newport's side to play Aberavon in a pre-season friendly at Rodney Parade tomorrow night (kick-off 7:30pm)

Newport: Matt Pini, Hal Luscombe, Matthew Watkins, Andrew Marinos, Ben Breeze, Shane Howarth, Dale Bunn, Rod Snow, Paul Young, Chris Anthony, Gareth Taylor, Simon Raiwalui (c), Peter Buxton, Jason Forster, Andrew Powell.

Replacements: Emyr Lewis, James Rowles, Jon Pritchard, Nathan Brew, Jason Strange, Llyr Lane, Ceri Jones, James Richards, Chris Thomas, David Pattison,

First published on Thursday 16 August 2001: