Richie Gray has signed a contract extension that will keep him with Glasgow Warriors for the “foreseeable future”, which is understood to be two years.

The 32-year-old has hit a rich vein of form this season playing under Franco Smith at club level, which has sparked a revival of his international career, although he is an injury doubt for Scotland’s final match of the Six Nations against Italy on Saturday after popping his rib against Ireland last weekend.

This is Gray’s second stint with Warriors. He burst on to the scene during the 2008-9 season and made his international debut the following year, before joining Sales Sharks in the summer of 2012. The 6ft 9ins second row – who was capped by the Lions in Australia in 2013 – also had stints with Castres and Toulouse before returning to his hometown club in 2020.

A combination of injury and family commitments meant Gray managed just three Scotland appearances (all off the bench) between March 2017 and the start of the recent Autumn Test series, but he has since produced arguably the best rugby of his career for both club and country.

“The main factor for me staying is that my family is happy and I’m happy, simple as that,” said Gray. “I can’t speak highly enough of the envir-

onment at the club, as it ensures everyone involved pushes hard to be at their best on and off the park.

“I’m really enjoying playing under Franco [Smith], too. He’s a big character and the team has bought into his philosophy of attacking rugby which suits Glasgow Warriors. He has challenged me as a player, which I believe has brought the best out of me.

“If we can continue to grow in other areas, we will be able to challenge for titles, and that’s something I’m really looking forward to being a part of.”

Meanwhile, Edinburgh have handed a trio of academy prospects their first full-time contracts, with full-back Harry Paterson, stand-off/centre Cammy Scott and loose-head prop Mikey Jones all agreeing terms with the capital club.