Patrick Schickerling believes his Glasgow Warriors team-mate Zander Fagerson is among the top three props in the world. 

Fagerson has been instrumental for the Warriors since debuting in 2014 and he became their youngest player to reach 50 appearances, aged just 21. 

The 28-year-old was excellent for Scotland throughout the Autumn Nations Series and he’s destined to head on his second British and Irish Lions tour next summer. 

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Schickerling is learning from his fellow tighthead prop at close quarters at Scotstoun and he believes Fagerson’s all-round game ranks amongst the world’s best. 

“100 per cent,” Schickerling replied when asked if Fagerson was one of the best in the world. “You always think of a prop that gives you scrummage, and since coming here I’ve noticed how good he is around the park and defensively, carrying the ball.

"I’d probably say he’s in my top three as well. You obviously have to give it to the South Africans - Frans Malherbe one, and at the moment I’m looking at Thomas du Toit, who can actually play on both sides of the scrum, which is quite rare.”

Shickerling named Springboks tighthead Frans Malherbe as the best prop in the world Shickerling named Springboks tighthead Frans Malherbe as the best prop in the world (Image: Mike Egerton/PA Wire) “He [Fagerson] is actually been very open with sharing his knowledge, so it’s good to have him around and learn from him. So I’m grateful on that behalf. It’s a very experienced front row throughout the squad, so I’ve been learning a lot from them.”

Schickerling is yet to start for Glasgow since joining from Exeter Chiefs in the summer, making two appearances from the bench. But the Zambian-born prop is in contention for a starting role against the Scarlets on Friday night and he could even play at loosehead, despite naturally being a tighthead. 

“I’ve actually trained on both sides ahead of the weekend,” Schickerling admitted.

"It’s definitely hard, but it’s a good thing to know both. Because you can notice what you don’t want from the opposition, so I kind of know what I don’t like from a loosehead. It’s good to know both sides and it’s probably an advantage.”

Schickerling is enjoying life in Scotland under the guidance of Franco Smith with the squad afforded some time off during the international break.

“Franco is actually very good,” he admitted. “We had the last three weeks off and we came in at the start of last week. We had a really good week.

"There’s a lot of emphasis on trust. It’s not normal to get three weeks off in the middle of the season, but everyone did their schedule, their gym, their running, and the boys came back in very good nick. We had a very good training week last week.”