The powerful forward joined Gloucester from Edinburgh two seasons ago and has been a big hit in the west country.

He has established himself as one of the biggest hitters in the Guinness Premiership and has forced his way into the national set-up on a regular basis.

Although then Scotland coach Frank Hadden omitted him from the opening weekend of the RBS 6 Nations in February, he was recalled for the second match against France and stayed in the team for the rest of the championship.

Strokosch told www.rbs6nations.com: “The move to Gloucester has gone well for me. People didn’t really know too much about me in England before I moved there but it’s been a good experience for me.

“I’m playing regularly in the Premiership, which is a tough league, and that has improved my all-round game.”