Bath lose new prop Bhatti for months before Quins opener
Bath will be without new signing Jamie Bhatti for a number of months after the Scotland prop suffered a forearm injury.
Head of rugby Johann van Graan said the 33-year-old needs an operation and will miss the start of the season, according to BBC. The update came before Bath open their Prem campaign — England's top flight — away to Harlequins on Friday.
Bhatti only arrived this summer as one of two new signings alongside Dan du Preez. A loosehead prop, the front-row forward who packs down on the left side of the scrum, he featured in the pre-season friendly win against Glasgow before the injury struck.
Pre-season matches are largely about building fitness and testing combinations. Losing a player at that stage wipes out weeks of careful preparation.
It is rotten timing for his second spell at the club. Bhatti first joined Bath from Edinburgh in December 2020 as injury cover while Lewis Boyce recovered from a knee problem, at that stage a 16-times capped Scotland international, according to Premiership Rugby. He later moved to Glasgow Warriors before returning this summer on a contract until 2028, according to Bath Rugby.
At 33, he was expected to bring hard-won experience to the front row. Props live in contact, pushing, lifting and tackling, and the scrum alone puts huge twisting force through arms and shoulders.
Van Graan also confirmed other early-season absentees for the trip to south-west London. Young prop Vilikesa Sela and back Louis Hennessey are out with foot injuries. Winger Will Muir remains sidelined after a shoulder injury ended his 2025-26 season in May, while Henry Arundell has a small back issue.
There was better news on Will Stuart. The tighthead prop — the forward who anchors the right side of the scrum — is back after nine months out with an Achilles injury. That is a long, lonely rehab of strength work and running loads.
For supporters, this means a test of depth where it hurts most. Scrums, mauls and close carries drain front-rowers fast, and coaches usually rotate props to keep them fresh. Losing an experienced loosehead before round one puts extra load on those left standing.
