For the fourth successive time, only three Scotland players were named at an official British & Irish Lions squad announcement yesterday with Richie Gray, Stuart Hogg and Sean Maitland the trio whose status in the sport was transformed on this occasion.

With 15 Welshmen, 10 Irishmen and nine England internationalists in Warren Gatland's 37-man squad, it was yet another painful blow for Scottish rugby and Mark Dodson, Scottish Rugby's chief executive, admitted as much afterwards.

"To get three is disappointing but you saw all those guys and how thrilled they are and unbelievably proud they are to represent the British and Irish Lions and you can see what it means to everybody," he said.

It was appropriate that the Scottish event marking the occasion was held at the home ground of Glasgow Warriors which, in the context of Lions selection, has produced all three players. Gray, who left his home-city club last summer and has won a race against time to prove his fitness after being stretchered off against Wales two months ago, said the selection of the three Glasgow players can be put down to the "team unity" generated over recent years.

For all that Gray was in Glasgow for the announcement, none of them watched the announcement together. Gray stayed at home. "I didn't particularly want to watch but the old man sat down with me and kind of forced me to watch it." That was not the case for New Zealand-born Maitland, who joined the club only six months ago from Canterbury Crusaders: "I bit the bullet and watched it with the [Warriors] boys. I was pretty nervous and crapping myself. They named it in specific positions and obviously they had the full-backs first and when Hoggy's name got read out I was extremely happy for him. Then, when the wingers were getting called I think I was the last named. I didn't really know what to say. I was full of happiness and it was quite a surreal feeling."

Hogg had, meanwhile decided to keep well out of the way, working on his game with Chris "Mossy" Paterson, his kicking coach. "I was on the training pitch. I ran back in to get my kicking tee and grabbed my phone at the same time, so I started watching it on the Sky app and, as soon as my name came on, I screamed like a little girl. Mossy heard me and he was at the other end of the pitch."

Hogg, who will celebrate his 21st birthday on tour, had words of consolation for colleagues who had missed out, in particular clubmate Ryan Grant, who had been heavily tipped to be included.

"Obviously we'd like to have as many Scots as we could and there will be a couple of guys that are disappointed not to go, but they'll continue to work hard on their game and put their names forward for the next one," he said

"I'm disappointed that Ryan's not going to be joining us because I think he's had an outstanding season and he's one of those who are always working hard on his game and doing little bits and pieces that will make him the best player he possibly can be. He'll come back an even stronger player."