Interest in Glasgow Warriors players 'inevitable' - Gregor Townsend

Glasgow Warriors head coach Gregor Townsend admitted that it is natural for clubs around the world to show interest in signing his team's players after their impressive showdown in this season of European Champions Cup.

Townsend's men are fresh from a back-to-back win over last year finalists Racing 92 which had dashed the hopes of the French giants making it to the play-offs.

On the other hand with three wins from four games, Glasgow Warriors are looking strong to make their first ever appearance in the European tournament. Even though, the likes of Stuart Hogg, Henry Pyrgos and Adam Ashe have extended their contract with the Scotscoun based club, co-captain Jonny Gray has already been linked with the French club Toulon.

Townsend is wary of the fact with just two clubs in Scotland, the players will be exploring opportunities outside the country.

The 43-year-old is set to take in charge of Scotland next year and expressed his desire to see most of the players featuring for the country to be playing in local leagues.

"If our players show they can perform at the best level then they earn the right to not only to get international recognition but to earn a better contracts here.

"But that also means other clubs will be interested in them.

"We had that last year with Leone Nakarawa moving to Racing but it is a good position to be, because it means we're taking on the best in Europe and our players are showing what they can do.

"For Scottish rugby as a whole, it's important there is a balance between allowing too many players to leave. We as a club had 14 players in the last Scotland squad then you add in the Edinburgh players, so it shows there is still not a huge amount of guys playing outwith our borders.

"But it is inevitable that with amount of really good players coming through, they are not going to stay at just two teams. They are going to end up playing elsewhere.

"If it's right for the player and he can still improve, then it's not a bad thing is he moves on. But right now we certainly want to keep our best players."

On both the games, Glasgow played against Racing 92, Scotland fly-half Finn Russell outscored his counterpart and All Blacks legend Dan Carter.

Praising Russell for his exploit in the game, Townsend is backing the 24-year-old to make it to the British and Irish Lions squad for the gruelling tour of New Zealand in June next year.

"He's playing with a lot of confidence right now and making really good decisions - but I think he's only scratching at the surface of the player he can be.

"He'll be the first to admit that there were a few things that didn't go for him against Racing. That will always happen to players at 10 who have to make decisions.

"He's experienced a lot over the last few months - winning the PRO12, overcoming a serious injury - but he's learned a lot. When you play against Australia for Scotland and then Racing with Dan Carter, one of the best fly-halves to ever play the game, then you are going to be a better player for the experience.

"There is a lot competition of at stand-off for the Lions. England have two guys in that position and they are unbeaten for the whole of 2016. There's Jonny Sexton, a Lions Test stand-off, who is a brilliant player, and Dan Biggar from Wales.

"But Finn should be in the mix because he's starting stand-off for Scotland and playing some really good rugby."