BBC’s Andy Burke answers your Scottish rugby questions

With Glasgow charging on in the URC and Scotland about to start their autumn Tests, Andy Burke answers your questions.

David asked: With the Champions Cup approaching, how far do you think Glasgow can make it without Richie Gray?

Andy answered: Gray is undoubtedly a big loss, David, but I do feel Scott Cummings has amassed enough experience at this stage of his career to step up as a leader and fill that void.

Throw in the emergence of the likes of Max Williamson and Alex Samuel and Glasgow’s second row will continue to be an area of real strength.

As for the Champions Cup, I’m hopeful that, given a kind enough draw, Warriors can finally break through that quarter-finals glass ceiling.

When they went out to Harlequins in the last eight last season it was a credible showing, going down to the Stoop and giving a top English side a real run for their money.

Reflecting on it now, after seeing what Glasgow produced at the tail-end of last season to win the URC and the form they have shown at the start of this term, I look back on that Quins defeat as a real missed opportunity.

Franco Smith has avoided making any public statements about Champions Cup targets this season, but privately I’m sure he’ll feel this is a squad now capable of reaching the business end of the competition.

Keith asked: In order to build on last year’s success and become ‘significant’ in Franco Smith’s words, should Glasgow and the SRU be doing everything within their powers to retain key players such as Sione Tuipulotu, rather than let them be lured to other clubs, as happened after the 2015 Pro12 winning season?

Andy answered: I view Sione Tuipulotu differently to the likes of Duhan van der Merwe in terms of the importance in keeping them in Scotland.

Van der Merwe has been playing in Scotland for many years – aside from a brief spell at Worcester – and while his value to the national team is unquestionable, there is a question mark on whether Edinburgh are getting real bang for their buck from the big winger.

There’s a compelling argument to be made for allowing him to pursue other opportunities this summer and use the freed-up wages to strengthen the Edinburgh squad.

Tuipulotu is different. His form in both the Scotland and Glasgow shirt since he arrived has been nothing short of magnificent and he only seems to be getting better.

You only have one career and I certainly would not blame Tuipulotu if he were to maximise his earnings elsewhere, but I get the impression money will not be the decisive factor when it comes to deciding his future.

He is loved in Scotland and loves the country. His brother Mosese is now at Edinburgh and Sione has spoken of how much it means to him to have family close to him. He has now been given the Scotland captaincy which he says is a great honour to him.

That would be a lot to give up – not that he would necessarily lose the captaincy by leaving – and the SRU needs to pull out all the stops to convince Tuipulotu he can achieve all he wants, professionally and personally, by remaining in Scotland.