Former Scotland rugby player Scott Hastings. Photo / Getty Images
Scott Hastings, the former centre for Scotland and the British and Irish Lions, has passed away aged 61, the Scottish Rugby Union has announced.
The Hastings family, in a statement released by Scottish rugby’s governing body, announced that the 65-times-capped centre had “passed away peacefully surrounded by family” on Sunday local time after complications from cancer treatment, having “deteriorated extremely quickly”.
Sunday was also the birthday of Hastings’ late wife, Jenny, who died by suicide in September 2024 after being reported missing while swimming in the Firth of Forth.
The couple are survived by their children, Corey and Kerry-Anne, who added via the SRU: “Today 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 Hospital 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.”
Hastings won 65 caps for Scotland over 11 years, represented the Lions on 12 occasions across two tours and played 13 games for the Barbarians.
Hastings, whose elder brother Gavin captained the Lions against the All Blacks in 1993 and played 61 times for Scotland at fullback, is the most-capped Scottish male centre of all time.
Adam Hastings, the current Scotland back, is Scott’s nephew.
Upon retiring, Hastings had a successful media career as both a commentator and pundit across both XVs and sevens, for both Sky and ITV.
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 teammate from the previous year, Jerry Guscott, in the England team, but Scott gave nothing away to him whatsoever.
“Whatever jersey Scott wore, he just made it better.”
“Scottish Rugby extends its heartfelt sympathies to Corey, Kerry-Anne, and Scott’s wider family, led by brothers Graeme, Gavin and Ewan and all his many friends,” the SRU said.
“The flag will fly at half-mast at Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium in tribute to one of Scotland’s finest sons. We will share details of the funeral service once these are finalised.”
Brian Moore, Telegraph Sport columnist and former international, paid tribute to his former British and Irish Lions teammate during the BBC’s Women’s Six Nations coverage.
“I got to know Scott very well on two Lions tours,” he said. “He was a roommate of mine on several occasions and he was a man I got to know very well ... of huge integrity, honest and empathy. That is testament to any human being’s legacy.
“As a player, his partnership with Jeremy Guscott was seminal to us beating Australia in 1989. One thing you always got with Scott, in extremis or when on top, he gave nothing less than his best. You knew he would never let you down for effort.
“Those who knew Scott will know what we have lost; those in the wider rugby world who did not know him, rugby is much the poorer for his passing but very much the better for his being.”