BATH Rugby forwards coach Neal Hatley believes Luke Charteris will have a big role to play when he arrives at the club ahead of next season.

Bath have snapped up the Wales international lock from French side Racing 92 for the 2016-17 campaign.

Hatley says everyone at the club will be looking to tap into the experience that 60-plus cap Charteris - who has featured in the last two Rugby World Cups - will bring with him to The Rec.

“He is a great signing. He will fit in nicely with what we have already,” said Hatley of the six-feet-ten 32-year-old.

“Apart from getting a big man, that 60-cap experience is going to be invaluable.

“Luke is going to bring a lot. Apart from playing games and making a difference on the training pitch, he is going to be an important figure for young guys like Charlie Ewels, Tom Ellis and Will Spencer to learn from.

“He has got a huge amount of knowledge. He’s played for the Dragons in the Celtic League, in the Six Nations and World Cups for Wales and in a really tough Top 14 competition over in France for one of the strongest teams out there in Racing.

“He’s going to be a big asset for us moving forwards.”

Charteris could well form a second row combination with Dave Attwood at Bath next season after the England international put pen to paper on a new deal at the club this week.

Attwood joined Bath from local rivals Gloucester in 2011 and has become one of their most influential players.

The 28-year-old agonisingly missed out on a place in England’s World Cup squad in the summer but has hit the ground running for Bath this season.

Hatley added: “Dave is one of the best set-piece locks in the Premiership. He is an outstanding scrummager.

“He has been a huge player for us for a number of years.

“It was a big blow for him to miss out on the World Cup and was probably a tough time for him to have to watch at home.

“We gave him a bit of time off after that and what was most impressive for us was that he didn’t come back moping or feeling sorry