MATT Scott has praised Scotland and Gloucester colleague Greig Laidlaw following his British and Irish Lions call-up.

Scrum-half Laidlaw has replaced England's Ben Youngs in the New Zealand-bound squad after Youngs withdrew on compassionate grounds following his sister-in-law's terminal cancer diagnosis.

"Obviously, it is not in the best circumstances," Gloucester centre Scott said. "Everyone is devastated for the Youngs family.

"I have known Greig since he was at Edinburgh. I've seen him get capped for Scotland, and now become one of the best nines in the world.

"He is one of the most passionate guys I have met around rugby.

"It doesn't matter if it is a club game where nothing is on the line, or Scotland versus England at Murrayfield, he is the same.

"He hates losing, and he brings that passion to every training session. He is a fantastic leader, who has been a great captain for Scotland and Gloucester."

Laidlaw and Scott will head back to Scotland on Friday for the European Challenge Cup final, when Gloucester tackle Stade Francais at Murrayfield.

Victory for Gloucester would keep alive their hopes of European Champions Cup qualification next season, and rugby director David Humphreys said: "There is no extra motivation required for a cup final - everybody knows how important this game is for the club.

"We have to win on Friday, and we still have an opportunity to get Gloucester into next season's Champions Cup. That has been the motivation since the start of the year.

"Every time we've found ourselves needing to lift our performances in this competition, we've responded well in the face of injuries or defeat.

"This week will be no different. Players throughout their careers don't get many opportunities to win a cup final, and when it comes along you have to make sure you're in the best place you can be to win."

Gloucester, meanwhile, have announced the signing of Bristol full-back Jason Woodward.

New Zealander Woodward will move to Kingsholm in time for next season.

Woodward joined Bristol earlier this season, and delivered a number of impressive displays in the west country club's ultimately unsuccessful battle to avoid relegation.

Humphreys said: "Jason is a player who we have been aware of for some time now, even before he played against us this season, and we are delighted to have agreed a deal to bring him to the club.

"We speak about wanting to have a number of quality players in every position, and Jason's arrival gives us some great selection options at a number of positions.

"Jason has been a stand-out player for Bristol since his move to Europe in November.

"He now knows exactly what the Premiership is all about and can hit the ground running when he arrives for pre-season training."