Gavin Hastings

Lore & Background

Hastings was born in Edinburgh, and was educated at George Watson's College, Edinburgh, Paisley College of Technology (now the University of the West of Scotland), and Magdalene College, Cambridge, where he studied Land Economy and graduated with a BA in 1986. He captained the victorious 1985 Cambridge University side, and during his sabbatical year he won the Gallaher Shield with Auckland University Rugby Football Club. In Scotland, Hastings played for Watsonians. He played for Edinburgh District in the era before professionalism, before switching to the club side London Scottish, and also then turned out for the Scottish Exiles. When rugby union turned professional in 1996, he was still playing for London Scottish. Hastings captained the first Scottish schoolboys' side to win on English soil. He won 5 caps for Scotland 'B' between 1983 and 1985. Hastings made his debut for Scotland against France in 1986 and was a central figure in Scotland's 1990 Five Nations Grand Slam. In February 1995 he became the holder of a record number of Scottish caps when he made his 53rd full international appearance, passing Colin Deans and Jim Renwick. Hastings's final game was on 11 June 1995 against New Zealand in Pretoria at the quarter-finals of the 1995 Rugby World Cup. By the end of that match he had scored 667 international points, a Scottish record that stood until surpassed by Chris Paterson in 2008. Hastings captained Scotland on 20 occasions including at the 1995 World Cup. Hastings first played for the British Lions in 1986, against a Rest of the World XV, before playing in all three tests of the successful 1989 tour to Australia and against France in 1989. He was captain on the 1993 tour to New Zealand, where the Lions lost the test series 2–1. On 30 August 2007 Hastings was announced as the chairman of the new Edinburgh professional rugby club. In 1996, Hastings joined the Scottish Claymores, an American football team in the NFL Europe. He played a single season as a placekicker, scoring 24 of 27 conversions, but missed his only attempt at a field goal. Despite the Claymores winning the World Bowl, Hastings was released at the end of the season. Hastings' younger brother Scott was also a Scotland international player. His son, Adam plays for Glasgow Warriors and also has represented Scotland. His niece represented Scotland at hockey. Hastings' wife, Diane, whom

In Their Own Story

The source does not provide any specific match stories or dramatic moments from Gavin Hastings' career. It only confirms his existence as a former Scotland international and the father of Adam Hastings.

Reader's Guide

Gavin Hastings is a Scottish rugby legend, known for his fullback play, captaincy of Scotland and the British Lions, and his record 667 international points. He also played American football for the Scottish Claymores and later became chairman of Edinburgh professional rugby club.

Did You Know?

• Hastings scored 667 international points for Scotland, a record until Chris Paterson surpassed it in 2008.
• He captained the British Lions on the 1993 tour to New Zealand.
• In 1996, he played a season as a placekicker for the Scottish Claymores in NFL Europe.
• His son Adam Hastings plays for Glasgow Warriors and has represented Scotland.

Gallery