Scottish rugby legend Scott Hastings dies aged 61 as tributes pour in for 1990 Grand Slam winner
The former international had been undergoing treatment for cancer
Tributes have poured in for rugby legend Scott Hastings following his death at the age of 61.
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Hastings won 65 caps for his country over an 11-year period and also represented the British & Irish Lions 12 times across two tours.
He remains Scotland's record appearance maker from centre and was part of Scotland’s famous Grand Slam winning team of 1990 alongside older brother Gavin.
A statement from the Hastings family on Sunday said: "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."
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"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."
Hastings revealed in 2022 that he was undergoing treatment for Non Hodgkin lymphoma.
As well as his impressive on-field career, Hastings also went on to commentate on rugby for a number of broadcasters.
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 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."
Current Scotland Head Coach, Gregor Townsend, 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.
Scottish Rugby is immensely saddened to learn of the death earlier today of former Scotland and British & Irish Lions centre, Scott Hastings. He was 61. pic.twitter.com/y2zqJmMDNp
— Scottish Rugby (@Scotlandteam) May 17, 2026
"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.
"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."