SCOTLAND'S encouraging World Cup has come at a price for the professional teams who have had to act quickly to make sure that players who increased their international profile during the tournament are signed up to stay in the country – presumably at significantly higher salaries.

The latest is Jonny Gray, the lock, who followed in the footsteps of Finn Russell, his Glasgow Warriors fly-half colleague in signing a three-year deal that will keep him at the club until 2018. There is a lot in common between the two – both signed their first deals as promising youngsters, and would not have been on huge wages, but have gone on to make themselves key players in the national side.

As long as the Scotland team was the unit that was finishing bottom of the RBS Six Nations Championship, they were still flying under the international radar, but after a World Cup that produced 17 tries and where they were within two minutes of being the only European team to reach the semi-finals, the profile of all those involved has rocketed.

With the English clubs having raised their salary cap allowing a club like Northampton to outbid Toulouse, the wealthiest club in the world, for Louis Picamoles, the France No.8, and the established spending power of the French clubs, the Scottish teams could have faced a flock of the vultures circling in an attempt to poach their best talent.

The risk was exposed last week in Wales where Taulupe Faletau, the Wales No.8, stayed put with the Dragons only after Warren Gatland, the national coach, put his foot down and refused to sanction a change of club for the centrally contracted player who was on the hit list at Bath.

The Scots needed to make sure they did not find themselves in the same position, hence the early moves to sign their key players on long-term deals that will keep them in Scotland until at least just before the next World Cup.

Both Gray and Russell played in four out of Scotland's five World Cup games, with Gray calling the lineouts while he was on the field and finishing fifth in the overall tackle count with 67, behind four South Africans who overtook him only during their semi final against New Zealand. He was top tackler from any country during the Six Nations.

With impressive figures like that behind him and having slotted in as captain several times for both club and country, it is easy to forget that he is still only 21, making his first starts for Glasgow Warriors and winning his first caps as a teenager.

“It’s been a fantastic few years development for me. When I was younger I always had the ambition to play for Glasgow and Scotland and playing in a Rugby World Cup has been a fantastic experience," he said. “It’s great to see Finn [Russell] signing as well. There is a lot of talent at the club and it’s great to be a part of it.

“Everyone works very hard and that just makes you want to improve as a player and improve the team as well. To have the opportunity to work with the coaches and players at the Warriors is fantastic. Scotstoun is a fun place to be and everyone works hard for each other and the culture is great.

“I used to go and watch my brother [Richie Gray, now at Castres] playing at Firhill and it's incredible to see the crowds growing since we moved to Scotstoun. The fans are really passionate and they make it a very special place to play.”

Gregor Townsend, head coach, was predictably overjoyed to have secured another of the players he is building the squad around: “Jonny has made a huge contribution over the last couple of seasons and it’s great news that he’s staying with us for another three years," he said. "He works very hard and has made the breakthrough for club and country over the last couple of years. Following the news that Finn [Russell] signed last week for the same length of time, this is another big boost for Scottish rugby."

It has not been all good news for Scottish locks, however. Fraser McKenzie from Edinburgh, has picked up a two week ban at a Guinness PRO12 disciplinary hearing. He had admitted a reckless charge at ruck in the weekend game against Copnnacht, but felt it had not deserved a red card. The panel, chaired by Roger Morris of Wales, disagreed but imposed the smallest suspension possible for the offence.