THE gloom over a poor weekend for Glasgow Warriors has been partially lifted by a couple of their current Scotland internationalists pledging their services to the club until at least 2017.
Henry Pyrgos, the scrum half, and Tommy Seymour, the wing, were both out of contract at the end of the season and have both signed to stay for another two years.
Pyrgos is particularly significant, coming less than a fortnight after the club had to admit they had lost the battle to retain Niko Matawalu beyond the end of this season. Had Pyrgos chosen to leave as well, it would have left the club without an experienced scrum half, so it was vital that they were able to hold onto him.
Even so, Gregor Townsend, the head coach, has admitted he is on the lookout for a quality player to replace Matawalu and provide competition for Pyrgos, who is likely to spend the early weeks of next season away with Scotland on Rugby World Cup duty.
"It's been great to see the club grow since I've been here," Pyrgos, who is coming up to his 100th game for the club, said. "I'm looking forward to playing in front of our really passionate supporters for another two years. Captaining the team has been a huge honour. I believe we've got a squad capable of winning trophies. Playing for the Warriors has enabled me to play for my country and I believe being at Glasgow gives me the opportunity to push on for more caps."
Seymour, the wing who scored in every one of Scotland's games in November, is an equally key player, with 20 club tries to add to the six he has grabbed in national colours: "The four years I've been at the club have been hugely enjoyable and we've come on really strongly as a team and our identity has grown. My coaches and teammates have helped me massively in my development as a player and I'm delighted I get to spend another two years continuing that development, playing in front of a crowd that is second to none," he said.
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