Gavin Hastings

Gavin Hastings was born in Edinburgh on 3rd January 1962 and was educated at George Watson's College before going on to study Land Economy at Cambridge University via Paisley College of Technology. He won two rugby blues at Cambridge and Captained the Light Blues in the 1985 Varsity Match prior to winning his first Cap for Scotland in the 1986 Five Nations Championship match against France, alongside brother Scott. He kicked six penalty goals on his debut to give Scotland an 18-17 victory. Eight years later they both won their 50th Caps together in the corresponding fixture at Murrayfield.

He captained Watsonians (in Scotland), London Scottish (in England), the Barbarians ( in Hong  Kong), the British Lions (in New Zealand) and Scotland (in South Africa) and has toured with various representative teams all over the world.


His Scottish highlights included playing in all three Rugby World Cups to date; winning the 1990 Grand Slam with Scotland and captaining his country to an historic away victory over France in 1995 after 26 years of trying.

Gavin retired from International rugby after the 1995 World Cup in South Africa having played 61 times for his country, 20 of them as Captain. He scored over 700 points in official Test Matches, placing him second behind Australia's Michael Lynagh in the list of all time record point scores.

He received an OBE in the New Years Honours List in 1994, nothing of course to do with the fact that HRH The Princess Royal is a loyal and proud supporter of the Scottish Rugby Team in her capacity as Patron of the Scottish Rugby Union.

In 1995, Gavin formed his own company, Hastings International, specialising in sports marketing and sponsorship, based in Edinburgh. Clients include The Famous Grouse, Edinburgh Reivers rugby team, and the Scottish Cricket Union. He also regularly gives motivational and teambuilding talks to blue chip companies such as British Airways and organises hospitality events throughout the UK.

In 1998, a PR subsidiary Craigie Hastings was formed in conjunction with Craigie Taylor International, who manage sponsorship and PR accounts for various clients including Vodafone's sponsorship of the England Cricket Team and The Famous Grouse sponsorship of the Scotland rugby team.

Since his retirement, Gavin has been a regular contributor and commentator for the BBC Grandstand team during the Five Nations Championship and other Internationals. He has been a regular contributor of articles to various press and can currently be read each week in the Sunday Mail.

He is a keen golfer with a handicap of 6 and occasionally still plays club rugby for Watsonians.