Scotland rugby legend Scott Hastings has died aged 61 after a battle with cancer.
When the outside centre hung up his boots he was Scotland’s most-capped player, having turned out 65 times for his country.
Hastings also toured twice with the British and Irish Lions, winning in Australia in 1989 and going to New Zealand in 1993.
He played in the last Scotland team to win a Grand Slam, 36 years ago when they won the 1990 Five Nations, with Hastings playing alongside brother Gavin.
In 2022 Hastings revealed he had been diagnosed with cancer five years earlier and was being treated for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
He has been receiving treatment since, but son Corey and daughter Kerry-Anne revealed that there had been complications recently.
His death was confirmed on Sunday in a statement from his children, which read: ‘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.’
Gregor Townsend, the current Scotland head coach and former teammate of Hastings, said: ‘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.’
The former Lions and Scotland head coach Sir Ian McGeechan 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.
‘Whatever jersey Scott wore, he just made it better.’
Hastings was also heavily involved in charitable works, notably for the Doddie Foundation after former Scotland and Lions player Doddie Weir was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease.
Kenny Logan, another former teammate with Scotland said of Hastings: ‘Scott was one of those guys who you could rely on to always put his hand up. His energy was incredible.
‘I worked with him while he was chair of the Doddie Foundation and Scott’s role wasn’t just about generating PR.
‘He was very knowledgeable and would never hesitate to do his bit.’