Scottish rugby greats gather in Edinburgh to celebrate the life of Scott Hastings

Hundreds of figures from the rugby world gathered at George Watson’s College in Edinburgh on Saturday to celebrate the life of Scott Hastings, the former Scotland and British and Irish Lions centre who died on 17 May aged 61 following complications arising from cancer treatment.

Guests — encouraged to wear colourful clothing — were piped up the steps of Hastings’ former school before a private service that drew many of his Scotland and Lions team-mates alongside friends and family. Former players in attendance included Brian Redpath, Ian McGeechan, John Beattie, Rob Wainwright, and Jim Telfer, while England’s Brian Moore and Rob Andrew, Wales’ Ieuan Evans, and former France captain Abdelatif Benazzi were also present.

Hastings’ brother Gavin, who played alongside him during a distinguished international career of his own, delivered a speech at the service. Speaking beforehand, he described Scott as “one of the great human beings”.

“I think Scott just wore his heart on his sleeve, whether it was on the rugby field or in everything that he ever did on and off the field,” Gavin said. “His generosity of spirit was extraordinary, so he touched a lot of people’s lives in a very positive way, and I think that’s how people will remember him.”

Gavin drew a comparison between his brother’s passing and that of Doddie Weir, who died in 2022 aged 52, saying both men had been “characters” and were “gone far too soon”. He also acknowledged that the last few years had been “incredibly tough” for Scott following the death of his wife Jenny in 2024, but said the family had “rallied round”.

“The rugby community is an extraordinary community, it really is, and I can’t thank everybody who has sent hundreds and hundreds of letters and messages and cards,” he added. “It’s almost been overwhelming, really, but it’s kept us going and Scott’s name will live long in people’s memory.”

Scottish Rugby Union president Keith Wallace described Hastings as a “great man”, saying he “realised that rugby is a game where the more you put in, the more you get out”.

Hastings won 65 caps across an 11-year Test career that began in 1986 and was a member of the last Scotland side to win the Grand Slam, in 1990.