Glasgow Warriors | Return home works for Bhatti
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September 30, 2021

Return home works for Bhatti

Posted by Editor on September 30, 2021 10:26 PM | No comments | Print | E-mail author

Jamie Bhatti hopes he can make his stay at Glasgow an extended one
Jamie Bhatti says his return to Glasgow Warriors means he's coming home for what he hopes will be an extended stay.

Bhatti left Glasgow for Edinburgh after the 2019 PRO14 final but the move didn't really work out for the loosehead prop and he was allowed to move to him to Bath for the remainder of last season.

Bhatti enjoyed his spell in the English Premiership but he says Glasgow is where he wants to be - and where he's like to stay, if possible.

"I love Glasgow, I love being back, and Glasgow is home for me," he said in The Scotsman. "It would be easy for me to sit here and say I would love to be at Glasgow for the rest of my career but ultimately that is not my decision. I can't offer myself a contract, although I wish I could. But I will do all I can to be the best version of myself again. We will see what happens."

Bhatti came on as a second-half replacement in last Friday's defeat to Ulster. Warriors put together some good moments in the narrow defeat - and left with two bonus points - but Bhatti was left frustrated that Warriors didn't leave Belfast with more to show for their efforts.

"We were really close, it was just a couple of mistakes," he said. "These mistakes happen, it's the game we play, a couple of knock-ons and... you never want to blame the referee, do you?"

Warriors now face South African side the Sharks who will be missing a number of their international stars who are on Springboks duty against New Zealand in the Rugby Championship.

"It would be good to play against those guys," Bhatti said. "It would be good to test yourself against the best. But we will take anyone, on our home patch as well.

"They will have a big pack, won't they? They are renowned for having good forwards and big ball-carriers so it will be a physical game. But that's good for us, we have a big pack, we have a good scrum, good lineout and good drive. We back ourselves against anyone."

Bhatti's stay at Bath was a short one but he says it sharpened up his scrummaging skills and gave him a boost after his disappointing period with Edinburgh.

"I played 10 times [for Bath] and I definitely developed set-piece wise. The experience of playing in the Premiership and playing against Harlequins and the top teams, it was good for me to get that experience and bring it back up here. A change of scenery as well is always good.

"I am back at Glasgow and I am grateful for the opportunity to come back here. I want to play as much rugby as I can this season. It has been a tough couple of years, leaving Edinburgh and things not really working out at Edinburgh.

"But I am happy being back here, I am comfortable here, and the more I play the more confident I will get as well."