Scotland legend Scott Hastings dies aged 61

Scottish Rugby have paid tribute to former Scotland centre Scott Hastings following his death at 61.

Hastings was one of Scotland’s most decorated centres, winning 65 caps between 1986 and 1997 — a national record at the time and still the most by a Scottish male centre.

He scored 10 international tries and played 12 times for the British & Irish Lions across the 1989 and 1993 tours, featuring in two Tests.

A Grand Slam winner in 1990, Hastings also earned 13 caps for the Barbarians. At club level, the Watsonians product represented Edinburgh and Newcastle Northern, later winning the Melrose Sevens in 1996 before forging a long career in broadcasting.

Hastings, the uncle of current Scotland international Adam, had been battling a cancer diagnosis of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, which was revealed back in 2022.

After initially fighting it off, the cancer returned.

A statement given by son, Corey, and daughter, Kerry-Anne, this afternoon reads: “We are saddened to inform you that Scott passed away peacefully surrounded by family on the morning of Sunday 17 May.

“This also marked his late wife Jenny’s birthday which speaks louder than words that he is safe and with his beloved Jenny.

“Scott was undergoing cancer treatment and due to complications deteriorated extremely quickly. Despite every effort by the incredible team at the Western General ICU, he passed away peacefully and pain free.

“At this time, the family ask everyone to give them space to process and manage their energies and ask for their privacy to be respected.

“More information will be shared in due course to celebrate Scott’s incredible life.”

Former England hooker Brian Moore went on two Lions tours with Hastings in 1989 and 1993, as well as playing against him on several occasions, including the momentous 1990 Grand Slam decider against Scotland at Murrayfield.

Commentating for the BBC on the France v England women’s Six Nations title decider, Moore paid tribute to his former team-mate.

“I got to know Scott very well on two Lions tours, in Australia and New Zealand, and he was a room-mate on several occasions,” he said. “He was very much a man of huge integrity, honesty and empathy. As a testament to any human being’s legacy, that is all you can say.

“As a player, his partnership with Jeremy Guscott was seminal in us beating Australia in 1989. The one thing you always got with Scott was you knew whether in extremis or when you were on top, he would give nothing less than his very best. That is not to say he always got it right but you knew he would never let you down for effort.

“Those who knew Scott know what we have lost. Rugby is much the poorer for his passing but was very much the better for his being.”

Current Scotland head coach and former teammate, Gregor Townsend, paid tribute to a giant of the Scottish game: “In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Scott was an iconic figure for Scottish rugby.

“His defensive display in the 1990 Grand Slam victory over England was crucial to that day’s success and he epitomised what it meant to play for Scotland – combining passion, confidence and aggression, whenever he wore the navy blue jersey.

“Like many other schoolboys throughout Scotland at the time, I wanted to emulate Scott’s approach to the game and how he took the game to the opposition.

“A few years later, I was fortunate to play alongside him on a number of occasions for Scotland, as he became our most-capped player.

“His influence on his team-mates was still very strong towards the end of his career as he helped us come very close to winning another Grand Slam game against England at Murrayfield in 1996.

“Scott always brought positivity and energy into everything he did from his playing career then into the past couple of decades as a widely travelled and respected commentator.

“His passing is a huge loss for Scottish rugby, and my thoughts and prayers go out to his family and close friends. Rest in peace, Scott.”

Sir Ian McGeechan, former Scotland and Lions head coach said: “My association with Scott and his brother Gavin was always special for me because we came into the Scotland set-up, myself as coach, and Scott and Gavin as players, at the same time. We came in together and we grew together.

“I remember Scott on the Lions tours taking an absolute lead. He was so single-minded and determined about winning.

“He was very much your right-hand man, given what he did on the field. I still remember the Grand Slam game against England in 1990. There was his Lions team-mate from the previous year, Jerry Guscott, in the England team, but Scott gave nothing away to him whatsoever.

“What ever jersey Scott wore, he just made it better.”