HIGHLY-RATED forward Zander Fagerson is confident that he can keep up the rapid progress he has made this season by staying with Glasgow Warriors. The 20-year-old tighthead prop yesterday became the latest key player to agree a new contract with Gregor Townsend’s squad, signing a three-year deal.

Fagerson made his debut against Treviso last season and went on to make eight appearances in all, but this season he has really established himself as a regular in the squad. He also won the first of what is likely to be many international caps in the Calcutta Cup match in February.

But, while he has made rapid improvements in a short time, Fagerson believes that he still has a long way to go before he is close to being the finished article in his position. “It’s not really sunk in yet,” he said yesterday after agreeing his new deal. “I think that in the summer I may well look back and say ‘That was a pretty good year’.

“I’m enjoying my time now and enjoying my rugby. I was chuffed last year just to be involved with Glasgow, so to stay here for longer and get as much game time as I have has been surreal.”

Fagerson’s first contract with Glasgow, signed in March 2015, was due to run until May 2017. His new deal runs until May 2019, and he explained that he had no hesitation in agreeing to extend his stay at Scotstoun. “I chose to sign for three years with Glasgow Warriors because I love the club and I feel we're going places,” he said. “The club and Gregor [Townsend, the head coach] have showed a lot of faith in me and I want to repay them for that.

“I love being at this club. They’re a great bunch of boys, and coaches, and you get loads of opportunities, so I grasped it with both hands.”

Fagerson just has that one Scotland cap so far, and, with Edinburgh’s WP Nel to contend with, he knows it could take him a while to become an established part of Vern Cotter’s national squad. But he has shown himself to be a quick learner as well as a hard worker, and, perhaps just as importantly, he has a positive self-critical approach that appears sure to stand him in good stead over the coming years.

“I don't think you ever really break it at tighthead,” he added. “You’re always striving to get better. If you don't have that mentality, you probably shouldn’t be playing, because it means you’ve lost it. I’m nowhere near the finished article - just trying to work as hard as I can to get there.”

After those eight appearances last season, Fagerson has already turned out for the Warriors 21 times in this campaign. “It’s fantastic news for the club that Zander will be staying in Glasgow for at least another three years,” Townsend said.

“He has worked really hard since making his debut for the club 18 months ago and getting capped for Scotland this year was another big milestone for him. It’s important that we continue to retain the players who we feel can help the club improve and we look forward to Zander having a big role to play in the future.”