COMMENT: Scotland skipper Sione Tuipulotu signing a new deal feels significant. It bucks the trend and puts an end to the assumption that Glasgow and Edinburgh can’t afford to keep their best players, writes Calum Crowe

The news that Sione Tuipulotu has committed his future to Glasgow Warriors and signed a new contract is undoubtedly a huge coup for Scottish rugby.

Tuipulotu was appointed Scotland’s new captain a few weeks ago ahead of the Autumn Nations Series and has been one of the top players in world rugby over the past year.

Indeed, Gregor Townsend’s decision to hand him the captaincy was a major indication that a new deal had all but been agreed.

It would have been a terrible sight for Scottish Rugby if the newly appointed skipper had rejected the contract offer and moved elsewhere.

Tuipulotu certainly had no shortage of suitors. He had concrete offers on the table from clubs in the English Premier League, but also from interest in France.

In the past, these situations usually only went in one direction. When Scotland’s best players are offered big money elsewhere, more often than not they tend to leave.

We saw it with players like Finn Russell, Stuart Hogg and Jonny Gray all choosing to leave Glasgow Warriors.

Adam Hastings was another when he joined Gloucester, before heading out again this summer.

The same applied to Duhan van der Merwe. The Scotland winger left for Worcester Warriors, but moved back to Edinburgh after the English club imploded financially.

Blair Kinghorn left Edinburgh for Toulouse last year in a life-changing move, although that deal was as much a reflection of Edinburgh’s poor performances on the pitch as the finances on offer.

When clubs from England or France express their interest and start throwing money around, we normally know how it will end.

That’s why preserving Tuipulotu feels important. It bucks the trend and puts an end to the assumption that Glasgow and Edinburgh cannot afford to keep their best players.

Granted, given that their budgets come from the SRU’s central fund, the money won’t go that far.

Neither club will ever have the financial resources to build squads with the outspoken talent of many of those in England and France.

But if there is now a greater success rate when it comes to retaining Scotland’s best players, that will be welcome.

Tuipulotu will now be one of the highest paid players in the history of Scottish rugby. It feels refreshing that we have managed to retain one of our top talents.

His decision to stay with Glasgow also reflects an English Premiership that has lost its luster and appeal.

With the competition getting smaller and so many clubs having faced financial problems in recent years, this is not the only thing people dream about.

At the Warriors, Tuipulotu is a key player for a team that won silverware in the United Rugby Championship last season.

He is now captain of his country. He is expected to play at the peak of his powers and will be a Test starter for the British and Irish Lions on their tour of Australia last summer.

Now that he has committed his future to Glasgow and Scottish Rugby, it is proof that players don’t always have to jump ship. Long may it continue.