Glasgow a path to caps for Hastings
ADAM HASTINGS has revealed he signed for Glasgow Warriors to fulfil his dream of playing for Scotland like legendary dad Gavin.
The fly-half, who will join on a two-year contract from Bath in the summer, believes regular game time at Scotstoun will be the best way to catch the eye of new national head coach Gregor Townsend.
‘From a young age, I wanted to play for Scotland and I believe playing in Scotland is the right decision for me at this stage of my career,’ said the Edinburgh-born 20-year-old. ‘As a young fly-half, it’s important to get game time and hopefully I’ll get that opportunity in Glasgow.
‘There are some quality players at Glasgow and I can’t wait to start working with them. I like to run the ball, I’m quite an instinctive player and I like to have a crack. I like the way Finn Russell plays and I can’t wait to learn from him.
‘Glasgow are flying and seem to be a really tight-knit team. Qualifying for the quarter-finals in Europe was a big statement of where the club is going and I’m excited to be joining them next season.
‘I had a fantastic two years at Bath and really developed as a player. However, I felt I needed to take this next step to continue improving.’
Hastings played 15 first-team games in two years with the English Premiership side but knew he was never going to be their firstchoice ten after Welsh international Rhys Priestland extended his contract earlier this year.
The former Scotland Under-20s captain accepts that Russell will start the season as first-choice fly-half at Scotstoun but will seek the starting jersey when his more experienced team-mate is on national duty during the autumn Tests and Six Nations.
Hastings certainly made an impression during his time at Bath, albeit director of rugby Todd Blackadder understood his desire to seek a first-team place elsewhere.
‘We are really sad to see Adam go,’ said the former All Black. ‘He is a hugely promising young talent and a great character to have around the squad. We understand his decision and his desire for more game time and wish him all the best at Glasgow next season.’
Warriors head coach Townsend was the man who had been pushing hardest to bring Hastings north of the border as he felt there was a desperate need for a young, top-class fly-half to be involved at both club level and with the national team as back-up to Russell.
There is no proper back-up at fly-half at Scotstoun with centre Peter Horne filling in at ten when required. Duncan Weir at Edinburgh is the only replacement at international level.
‘Adam trained with us a couple of years ago and has really developed at Bath,’ said Townsend, who replaces Vern Cotter as Scotland boss at the end of this campaign.
‘It’s great that he has decided to move back to Scotland and I’m sure he’ll fit in very well at Scotstoun next season.’
Although Hastings will not work with Townsend at club level — with New Zealander Dave Rennie taking
over at Glasgow in the summer — the incoming Scotland head coach is set to name him in his first-ever squad for the June tour matches against Italy in Singapore, Australia in Sydney and Fiji in Suva. He is likely to get the nod ahead of Weir and will go as back-up to Russell.
Warriors, have also tied up another two Scotland youth caps — George Horne and Paddy Kelly. The pair, who made their Glasgow debuts against Ospreys this season, have signed one-year professional contracts.