Jamie hopes M8 switch can help take him to Japan
Mere months ago, Jamie Bhatti wanted a complete break from rugby.
Now he’s within touching distance of a seat on the plane to the Rugby World Cup in Japan.
Last season was difficult for the prop – part of Gregor Townsend’s RWC training squad – as a loss of form meant he dropped out of the picture at Glasgow.
He’s now signed for their rivals at the other end of the M8, and Bhatti admits: “It was just a tough time, being at Glasgow and not playing much.
“Gregor Townsend picked me for the Six Nations, but I missed out on a couple of selections for the test matches.
“I was coming back from the Scotland camp, then not getting picked for my club. It wasn’t a low, but you were wondering what else can you do.
“When I got back from the Six Nations, I spoke to Glasgow coach Dave Rennie and said: ‘Look, where my head is at the moment, can I get a bit of time away from rugby, a week away or something?’.
“I said: ‘I know you know I have signed for Edinburgh, but I’m not wanting that to affect me. I’m still a Warriors player and if you want to play me, I’ll give it my all until the end of the season’.
“Dave replied: ‘You’ll be involved against the Cheetahs this week’. So I played and started to find some form.”
Not half. Bhatti battled his way back into the starting XV and kept the jersey as Glasgow dismantled his new employers in the derby, then thumped Ulster in the PRO14 semi-final before coming up just short against Leinster in the Final.
Bhatti says: “I’m confident coming in here, given the last few weeks of the season. I feel like I got my opportunity and I took it.
“I was playing some of my best rugby in those games. That came at a good time to get selected for the camp here in a bit of form.
“Obviously I’m happy to be at Edinburgh, and happy to be given the opportunity to play rugby for another two years. But it’s bittersweet, given the way I ended the season with Glasgow.
“I would love to have stayed on and played there, but this is the way rugby is at times. When I was looking for a contract around Six Nations time . . . ach, they didn’t want me at that point.
“I asked Dave if he wanted to keep me, and I couldn’t get an answer. Then Edinburgh came in and I met with Richard Cockerill and really liked what he had to say.
“I think it’s a really good move for me, given his experience as a front-row player, too.
“So whether I go to Japan or not, it’s good to know I’ve got a good club to go back to.”