Fissler Confidential: Bath to bring back Scot as England star set for u-turn

Bath are closing in on a deal that will see them bring back former abattoir worker and nightclub bouncer Jamie Bhatti to the Rec from the start of next season.

RugbyPass reported in February that the Stirling-born Bhatti, 32, Glasgow Warriors prop who made 11 appearances for Bath after joining in December 2020 as injury cover, was in talks to join them next season.

Johan Van Graan wants the loosehead to replace François Van Wyk, who is departing the treble winners for Connacht at the end of the season. They are now at an advanced stage and are hopeful of the deal being completed soon.

England and British Lions full-back Elliot Daly, who was reported earlier this week as still being on the market for a move when his contract runs out at the end of the season, could end up staying at Saracens.

Fissler Confidential reported in December that former Wasps star Daly, who will be 34 in October, had spoken to Sale Sharks about moving to Greater Manchester next season.

But there have been whispers gathering momentum in the last few days that Daly, who moved to North London seven years ago, has made progress in his talks with Saracens, where he won a Gallagher PREM title in 2023.

NSW Waratahs flanker Charlie Gamble is set to hit the jackpot with a lucrative move to a Japan Rugby League One club when his contract with the Super Rugby franchise runs out later this year.

Interest in the 29-year-old openside has been high since he caught the eye playing against the Lions last summer, with clubs in Japan and Europe sitting up and taking a keen interest in him.

It is understood that Christchurch-born Gamble has spoken to clubs in Japan and is looking to make a decision on where he will play next season in the next few weeks.

Gloucester’s new technical director, Chris Boyd, looks set to have to head off interest in hooker Manaaki Boyle-Tiatia, who is approaching the end of a three-month contract with the Gallagher PREM strugglers.

The Cherry and Whites brought in Boyle-Tiatia from Waikato, where he made 20 appearances in the NPC in the last couple of years, and he has played three times in the PREM Rugby Cup.

But it is understood that Saracens, who are looking for a hooker and a tighthead for next season, have been assessing him for a move to London if he doesn’t stay in the West Country.

Northampton Saints boss Phil Dowson will be hoping to have hit the jackpot once again after going shopping in Italy and landing Zebre Parma winger Malik Faisal, who will arrive at the club in the summer.

The Italy under-20 international scored a try on his debut against Montauban in the Challenge Cup in December and then followed it up with another in the return United Rugby Championship clash with Benetton the following month.

Saints, who are losing James Ramm to the Western Force, have enjoyed huge success with Italians Danilo Fishetti and Edoardo Todaro, while Marco Manfredi has broken through into their side for the PREM Rugby Cup campaign.

Bordeaux are already the envy of many clubs around the world for the glittering array of back-line talent they have at their disposal, especially Louis Bielle-Biarrey, probably the world’s best winger on current form.

And they have already added Thomas Delpeuch from Aurillac, who has scored three tries in six Pro D2 games this season, to their talent pool for next season.

And if that wasn’t enough, they have persuaded another young talent, Grenoble winger Hugo Avogardo, 19, who has only made two Pro D2 appearances this season, to link up with them in the summer.

Former Blues and Brumbies inside centre Tamati Tua, who is on the road to recovery, is battling to save his Exeter Chiefs career after missing the whole of this season through injury.

Tua, who made 11 appearances for the club last season, is coming to the end of his two-year deal and was 12 months ago being courted by Toulon and Perpignan, but damaged an Achilles tendon in pre-season.

“Obviously, we’ve signed Dallas McLeod and Will Butt, so we’re also in a scenario where squad size and salary cap start to play their part in the equation as well,” Rob Baxter told Fissler Confidential this week.

Ealing Trailfinders might be running away with the Champ Rugby title, but they are struggling to keep their squad together for next season, with David Douglas Bridge the latest to attract interest from the Gallagher PREM.

Douglas Bridge, a lock who can also play No. 8 or on the blindside, has made 14 appearances for Ealing this season and scored five tries, including a hat-trick against Ampthill last month.

Northampton Saints, who have snatched a few Ealing players, are interested in the 25-year-old, along with Saracens and Leicester Tigers, where he started his career with a couple of appearances in the PREM Rugby Cup.

Leicester Tigers boss Geoff Parling looks like being in the market for a couple of new coaches at the end of the season to replace Brett Deacon and Pete Hewat.

Deacon has spoken to Gloucester after the Kingsholm outfit earmarked him to become their new forwards coach, with England World Cup winner Trevor Woodman in talks with URC outfit Connacht.

While backs coach Hewat, who moved to the club under Michael Cheika after stints in Australia and Japan but stayed on when he left last summer, is likely to join the Queensland Reds.