Glasgow Warriors: Gregor Townsend consoles Ryan Grant over Lions

Coach Gregor Townsend has encouraged Ryan Grant not to let his standards drop, despite not making the Lions squad for the summer tour of Australia.

The Glasgow Warriors prop, 27, had been tipped to make Warren Gatland's squad along with his team-mates Sean Maitland and Stuart Hogg.

But while that duo and Castres-bound lock Richie Gray prepare for the tour, Grant will remain at home.

"What Ryan's got to do is just keep working hard," said Townsend.

"He's got big games with Glasgow coming up and a tour in the summer with Scotland."

Warriors have qualified for the play-off stages of the Pro12, while Scotland face Samoa and South Africa in June in the South African Quadrangular Tournament.

"He was desperately unlucky to miss out," added Townsend. "It shows the level of competition that there is in British and Irish rugby just now."

"He is obviously disappointed. He played really well for Scotland this year and then his game against Ospreys last week, I don't think you would have seen a performance like that from a prop right throughout the season.

"But opportunities do come. There are injuries on Lions tour and he's got a big future ahead of him even if he doesn't make it out to Australia."

However, former Lion Townsend praised full-back Stuart Hogg and winger Sean Maitland, who have been called up for the tour.

"I was delighted for the two lads," he said. "The Lions announcement is one of those big days in sport and everyone is waiting four years for it.

"We are really behind the two players that got selected and as a group we feel gutted for those that missed out."