Hamish Bain Bio
Hamish Bain is a Scottish rugby union player born on 24 September 1997 in Edinburgh, Scotland. A lock standing 2.00 m tall and weighing 117 kg, he has represented the Scotland Club XV at international level and built a career across Scottish, French, and Channel Islands clubs. As of the 2024–25 season, Bain plays for Vannes in the French Pro D2 after progressing through the Scottish Rugby Academy and several senior teams in the United Kingdom.
Bain began his senior career at Edinburgh Rugby in 2017, moved to Glasgow Warriors in 2020, spent a season with Jersey Reds, and signed with Vannes in 2023. His route through Currie, Stade Niçois, and the academy pathway highlights a player who developed steadily in both amateur and professional environments before establishing himself in the professional game.
Early Life and Background
Hamish Bain was born and raised in Edinburgh, Scotland, a city with a strong rugby tradition and a steady stream of talent feeding into the country’s professional clubs. From an early age, he stood out for his size, a quality that would later define his role as a lock in the forward pack. Growing up in Scotland’s capital gave him access to competitive age-grade rugby and a clear pathway into the national system.
He joined the Scottish Rugby Academy in 2015 as a Stage 1 player, completing his secondary education alongside his academy commitments. Bain progressed to Stage 2 in 2016, demonstrating the physical and technical development expected of a second-row forward. His move through the academy stages laid the foundation for a professional contract and a long-term place in Scottish rugby structures.
Path to Rugby
Bain’s amateur career began at Currie in the Tennent’s Premiership, one of Scotland’s top club competitions, where he gained senior-level experience while still part of the academy. His performances for Currie helped him earn selection for Scotland U20s in 2016 and 2017, representing his country at age-grade level and gaining international exposure.
In 2018, Bain moved abroad to Stade Niçois through a partnership between the French club and Scottish Rugby, spending two seasons developing his game in France. The stint in Nice broadened his experience of a different rugby culture and prepared him for the demands of full-time professional rugby. Returning to Scotland in 2020, he was ready to step up to the Pro14 with Glasgow Warriors.
Hamish Bain Career
Early Career (2017–2020)
Bain’s first senior contract came when he was assigned to Edinburgh Rugby as a Stage 3 academy player in September 2017. He spent the 2017–18 season with the Edinburgh-based professional side, training and playing in a competitive environment while continuing his academy development. The experience introduced him to the standards required at the top of the Scottish game.
After his single season at Edinburgh Rugby, Bain returned to France in 2018 to join Stade Niçois for the 2018–19 and 2019–20 campaigns. Playing regular amateur rugby in the French system helped him add muscle and refine his lineout work, both essential for a modern lock. By the time he re-entered the Scottish professional ranks, he had three seasons of senior rugby behind him.
Glasgow Warriors Breakthrough (2020–2022)
Bain signed for Glasgow Warriors in July 2020, joining one of Scotland’s two professional clubs on a multi-year deal. He made his Glasgow debut in Round 3 of the 2020–21 Pro14 season against Ospreys, registering as Glasgow Warrior No. 315. The debut marked his arrival as a professional in the United Rugby Championship.
When not on duty with Glasgow, Bain turned out for Boroughmuir Bears in the Super Series, maintaining match sharpness during a condensed fixture list. Over two seasons at Scotstoun, he established himself as a reliable squad lock, contributing in the set piece and around the field. His time at Glasgow coincided with the club’s competitive push in the Pro14 and early URC era.
Jersey Reds and Vannes Era (2022–Present)
In the summer of 2022, Bain joined Jersey Reds, the Channel Islands-based English Championship club, seeking more regular playing time. The 2022–23 season at Jersey gave him a leading role in a competitive second-tier environment and helped round out his professional profile.
He moved again in the summer of 2023, signing for Vannes in France’s Pro D2, the country’s second division. Bain has continued to feature as a lock for the Breton club, anchoring the forward pack with his size and lineout presence. His career path from Currie to Vannes reflects a player who has steadily built experience across multiple rugby cultures.
Driving Style and Strengths
Although best described as a forward rather than a ball carrier, Bain’s strengths lie in the set piece and physical confrontation. His 2.00 m frame and 117 kg bulk make him a natural lineout target and a strong presence in the scrum. Coaches have valued his work rate around the field and his willingness to carry into contact.
Notable Events and Milestones
Bain’s senior Scotland representative honours include selection for the Scotland Club XV in 2018, where he faced the Scotland U20 side in a cross-cap fixture. His registration as Glasgow Warrior No. 315 in 2020 marked a clear milestone in his professional journey, and his move to Vannes in 2023 confirmed his standing as a sought-after lock in the European market.
Hamish Bain Career Wins
Hamish Bain has built a steady professional career across Scottish, English, and French rugby since his debut in 2017. While win totals in lower-tier competitions and amateur leagues are not centrally recorded, his progression through Edinburgh Rugby, Glasgow Warriors, Jersey Reds, and Vannes reflects sustained contribution at competitive levels. His selection for Scotland Club XV stands as the most prestigious representative honour of his career to date.
Senior Career Highlights
Bain’s most notable spell came with Glasgow Warriors between 2020 and 2022, during which he made his Pro14 debut and featured in a Super Series campaign with Boroughmuir Bears. Earlier, his 2017–18 season at Edinburgh Rugby gave him his first taste of professional rugby in the Pro14. His 2022–23 year at Jersey Reds offered regular Championship rugby, and his 2023 move to Vannes has placed him in the French Pro D2 spotlight.
Other Wins and Performances
In the amateur ranks, Bain played for Currie in the Tennent’s Premiership and for Stade Niçois during two seasons in France. At age-grade level, he represented Scotland U20s in 2016 and 2017, contributing to the country’s development pathway.
Hamish Bain Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Rugby has long been a feature of Scottish sporting life, and Bain’s progression from Edinburgh’s local clubs into the national academy system reflects the country’s strong grassroots tradition. Specific details about his parents and siblings are not publicly documented in available sources.
Personal Life
Hamish Bain keeps his personal life largely private. Publicly available information about his spouse, children, and residence is limited, and he has not publicly disclosed details beyond his professional rugby commitments.
2025 Season Performance
The 2024–25 campaign marks Hamish Bain’s second season with Vannes in France’s Pro D2, the country’s competitive second tier. After settling into the club during 2023–24, he is expected to play a central role in the lock department, anchoring the lineout and contributing around the pitch. Vannes’ ambitions in the division give Bain a clear platform to demonstrate his consistency.
His experience across Scottish, English, and French rugby positions him as a senior figure in the squad, and his familiarity with the demands of Pro D2 should help him produce a more settled campaign. With another full pre-season behind him, Bain is well placed to feature regularly through the middle and latter stages of the season.
For Bain personally, the 2025 calendar offers a chance to push for further representative recognition, building on his earlier Scotland Club XV cap. A strong season at Vannes could also attract attention from clubs in higher tiers of French or British rugby. Whatever the outcome, his continued presence in a competitive professional league underlines the steady progress of his career since 2017.