The China Mail - Scotland rugby great Scott Hastings dead at 61

The centre won 65 caps for Scotland, in an 11-year Test career that started in 1986 playing 51 internationals with his full-back brother, Gavin, and was a member of the last Scotland team to win a Grand Slam in 1990.

He was also selected for the British and Irish Lions tours of Australia in 1989 and New Zealand in 1993.

Following his retirement as a player in 1999, Scott Hastings enjoyed a successful career as a rugby broadcaster.

A statement released by the SRU on behalf of his son Corey and daughter Kerry-Anne revealed Hastings had died due to complications arising from cancer treatment.

Hastings revealed in 2022 that he had been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

"Corey and Kerry-Anne Hastings are saddened to inform you that Scott, the Scotland and British & Irish Lions centre, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on the morning of Sunday 17 May," the statement said.

"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."

The statement added: "Despite every effort by the incredible team at the Western General Hospital ICU (intensive care unit), he passed away peacefully and pain free."

Scotland coach Gregor Townsend said Hastings "epitomised what it meant to play for Scotland -- combining passion, confidence, and aggression".

- 'Made the jersey better' -

Former Scotland and Lions head coach Ian McGeechan paid tribute by saying: "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."

Former England hooker Brian Moore remembered his former Lions teammate while commentating for the BBC during the Women's Six Nations match between France and England in Bordeaux.

"He was a room-mate of mine on several occasions and he was a man I got to know very well... of huge integrity, honesty and empathy," said Moore.

He added: "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," said Moore. "Rugby is much the poorer for his passing but very much the better for his being."

Q.Moore--ThChM