There’ll be a familiar surname on the team sheet for Scottish rugby fans when their side take to the Murrayfield pitch against Italy as on Saturday night – perhaps the most famous surname in Scottish rugby history.
Adam Hastings – son of Dark Blues great Gavin – has been selected in Gregor Townsend’s 2019 Six Nations squad and will likely win his fifth cap from the bench against the Azzurri.
The 22-year-old donned the famous jersey for the first time against Canada last summer. It is a jersey his father, as well as his uncle Scott, wore with distinction.
Gavin, 57, won 61 caps for Scotland, scoring 667 points (he is 18th on the all-time international rugby points scorers’ list), as well as featuring for the British & Irish Lions six times.
Younger brother Scott, 54, played 64 times for his country and twice for the Lions. And while Hastings junior will have to bide his time with Finn Russell ahead of him as Scotland’s first-choice fly-half, his uncle insists the Glasgow Warriors pivot is carving his own path in the famous family.
Scott Hastings won 64 caps for Scotland and played twice for the British & Irish Lions.
“He’s an exciting player but one willing to learn and understand you only get your rewards from hard work,” said the younger Hastings brother, speaking to Sport360 during December’s Dubai Rugby Sevens in his ambassadorial role with Capgemini.
“That ethic has taken him into the Scotland squad, and hopefully will continue for years to come.
“Both Gav and I are really proud of the way he’s handled himself in his professional career so far both in Bath and Glasgow. From what I’ve learned from Gregor Townsend and Dave Rennie (Glasgow coach) he’s willing to learn and listen and have an impact in the way his teams prepare.
“He revels in the atmosphere and he’s creating his own destiny. And while his uncle and father have done great things in the game he’s setting himself up for a great future in the game too.
“He’s 22, he’s going to make mistakes as I and Gavin did. But you learn and you get confidence from winning. For Scotland as a rugby nation, that extra effort has to be put in to get that respect, because it’s hard against nations so rich in talent and coached well like Ireland, England and Wales.
“He has Finn Russell to compete with. They will both have their chances but it’s great he’s in the equation. He’s still only 22. I was capped at 21. Hopefully he’ll do well.”