Bristol Rugby head coach Paul Hull has signed French No 8 Bertrand Bedes from Cornish Pirates.

The move is Hull's final piece of the jigsaw as he prepares his squad to restore Bristol's Premiership status at the first attempt.

At 6ft 4ins and 17stones, Bedes will add height and weight to the Bristol side and will compete against his former employers in next season's Championship campaign.

His previous clubs include Montpellier, Toulouse, Narbonne and Pau. He moved to Cornwall in May 2008.

Hull said: "Bertrand will bring a huge presence to the team and will no doubt threaten with his ball carrying ability. He will compliment our existing back row, whilst bringing a new element to the squad.

"Obviously, Saturday (when Bristol lost their final game of the season 73-3 at Leicester) was hugely disappointing. It was always going to be difficult playing the last game of the season against Leicester away, especially with the club now officially relegated and some players making their final appearance for Bristol.

"However, I'm happy to draw a line under the season and, with the squad now complete, look ahead to the Championship.

"We are doing everything to ensure that next season is a successful one."

Bedes, 28, played against Bristol Rugby in January 2006 when Narbonne overcame the home side in a 29-18 victory in a European Challenge Cup tie at the Memorial Stadium.

The signing adds to a trio announced last week by Hull, which included Wales World Cup-winning Sevens flanker James Merriman, currently of Neath.

USA international Robbie Shaw has also joined and will provide competition for Jason Spice at scrum-half, and completing the trio is Gloucester winger Dan Norton. The former England Under-20 international spent most of the 2008-09 season on loan at Moseley.