Hastings hungry for home comforts

EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND: NOVEMBER 05: Scotland's Adam Hastings takes a first half conversion during an Autumn Nation Series match between Scotland and Fiji at BT Murrayfield, on November 05, 2022, in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo by Ross MacDonald / SNS Group)

Fresh from a 2018 debut on Scotland’s North American tour, he came off the bench against the flying Pacific Islanders a matter of months later to score a first try in dark blue, in front of his nearest and dearest at Murrayfield.

Four years later and Adam starred in an enterprising first half against the same opposition, scoring another try and adding a couple of first-half conversions before injury put paid to his afternoon.

Indeed, through some injury troubles, that game in November two years ago was his last home outing. Having made a successful return to the international stage on the Skyscanner Americas tour this summer past, the Glasgow Warriors playmaker is craving more Murrayfield action this autumn.

Back to 2018, and a debut off the bench against Canada, where things didn’t quite go to plan at first. “I remember not being as nervous as I thought I would be, but how surreal it was,” said Adam. “You dream of making your debut and then that day comes and you’re sitting around, excited and just hoping I was going to get on.

“I think we got into a decent lead – it’s funny actually I was told to go on and push everyone out one, but I went on for the wrong person [centre, James Lang] and so Ruaridh Jackson [who had been stand-off] had to play in the centres. I just wasn’t listening, so I got a bit of a telling off.

“It was a really special occasion because there were a few of us who had come through the ranks together all made our debut on the same day; Jamie [Ritchie], Lewis Carmichael as well.”

His first home match in a Scotland shirt, where he came off the bench (this time for the correct player, Peter Horne) with 10 minutes to go, dotting down for a first international try, was surely even more special?

“Yeah, and more. I was looking forward to that more than my debut, to be honest. I know that sounds bad but I just wanted to play at Murrayfield as a kid.

“And to get out there, my whole family was there and mates – there must have been 30 in total – and I managed to get on the end of a try. It was so nice, I had about a 30-metre run-in as well; I don’t think I’ve had one from that far out since!”

Pictured: Adam celebrating after scoring his first Scotland try at Murrayfield, against Fiji in November 2018.

Fiji are renowned for their presence, flair and ability to do the unusual, often to great effect. And Adam can testify on that front. In their 2022 meeting, he got “nailed’ by the enormity of hulking Fijian Ratu Rotuisolia shortly after half-time, ending his involvement that day. He says that it is the consistency of physicality that sets them apart, as he prepares to face them for the fourth time this evening: “It’s not necessarily their unpredictability, it’s the physical power of them. The size, speed, power of them from 1-23, they’re just athletes. Every other team is the same but I think Fiji’s athletes are slightly better than everyone else’s!”

Having moved back to Glasgow Warriors after a stint with Gloucester, Hastings is clearly enjoying his rugby again, with a keen eye no doubt on adding to his haul of 125 international points.

On his return to Scotstoun, Adam also paid tribute to his former Kingsholm-based club: “It was just unfortunate that I couldn’t get out on the pitch more. I speak about how good Gloucester were to me and I’m forever in their debt, they constantly backed me and there are some really good people down there. It was a tough decision to leave but this is ultimately been the right decision to come back to Scotland.

“I’ve kept in touch and obviously there are a lot of new faces, the coaching staff is completely different. The set-up is different but it’s been really enjoyable, throwing myself into the new style and culture, it’s a real tight-knit, team mentality.

“Playing week-in, week-out, it makes things slightly easier. But there’s a lot of quality throughout the Glasgow squad, most of them are in the Scotland squad, so it’s good to be back rubbing shoulders with them.

“Since making my debut I’d been in pretty much every camp up until Covid, and then a series of injuries started. It gets further and further away but it was great to get into the summer tour squad and I really enjoyed playing those games, so hopefully I can be involved again and grab the chance.”

Still only 28 and with 30 caps in the bank, the talented stand-off has plenty of rugby memories to make on the Scottish Gas Murrayfield main pitch. You wouldn’t really bet against the next highlight coming against Fiji today.