Leeds Carnegie have confirmed the capture of Bristol fly-half Jason Strange on a two-year deal.The Welshman, who has been at the Memorial Ground for the past four years, top-scored for Bristol last season, amassing 74 points in the Premiership, but he admits his move to Leeds offers him a tough new challenge.
Strange said: "When I came up to Leeds last week to meet with Andy and Neil I could see there were lots of good things happening at the club.
"It's going to be a tough challenge but it is a great opportunity for me and hopefully I will be able to help Leeds Carnegie get back to where they need to be."
Strange helped Bristol achieve promotion to the top flight in 2005 and he admits he enjoyed that season, although he knows just how competitive it will be in the National League.
"When I won promotion with Bristol it was very tough but very enjoyable also," he added.
"It's a great community feel in National One and you are much closer with the supporters. Hopefully it will be the same with Leeds Carnegie in the new season.
"There are some very good sides in National One, like Exeter and Cornish Pirates and I know it will be a very competitive league. The difference between the Premiership and National One is that week in week out it's a tough old slog, but it is definitely a challenge that I am looking forward to."
Strange joins fellow summer signings Henry Paul, Scott Barrow, Phil Murphy, Jon Pendlebury and Pete Bucknall at Headingley ahead of the season-opener against Nottingham on August 31.
Director of Rugby Key believes he will be a very valuable member of the squad with competition for places now hotting up.
Key said on the club's website: "We are delighted that Jason accepted our offer to come and join a squad that is bristling with excitement for the coming season.
"Jason's qualities speak for themselves and as he has shown throughout his career he has a canny knack in making the scoreboard tick. Jason joins a group of talented outside halves and competition for that match-day spot will be intense.
"Jason's experience and leadership qualities will further strengthen the squad as we look to put a competitive squad together that will get us back into the Premiership."
