HASTINGS WILL LIVE HIS SON’S AMERICAN DREAM

WHAT’S in a name? Quite a lot, it turns out, when it comes to one of the most famous families in Scottish rugby. As a former captain of his country and Grand Slam legend, Gavin Hastings knew he was always going to play a significant role in the career of his son, Adam. But above all his duties, being there as a father is the most important. As dad sat at home in the early hours of last Sunday, the 21-year-old Glasgow Warriors fly-half made his debut for Scotland when he came on in the second half of their 48-10 win over Canada. If watching the action on a TV screen was thrilling, the excitement levels will be cranked up even further when Hastings senior flies to Houston to watch Scotland’s Test against the USA this weekend. He may not be able to shift the Hastings tag whenever his son plays, but that doesn’t matter when Adam continues to pull on a dark blue top. ‘I’m his dad and he’s only known me as his dad,’ said the 56-year-old, who won 61 caps at full-back. ‘I’ve never put any pressure on him to go out and succeed, achieve or whatever. All I have tried to do is point him in the right direction and occasionally push him when I felt it was perhaps needed. ‘I’m delighted for him but he’ll definitely have bigger aspirations and expectations. It’s not about me, it’s about him. ‘I’ve not actually spoken to him since the game at the weekend, though my wife has. I’m going over, so I will see him before the game. It’s one thing seeing him on the television but to actually be there will be great. ‘In a way, I’m glad we weren’t there last weekend because there might have been a sense of disappointment if he hadn’t got on in that game. Not from him, but us. But he’s got that out of the way and we are excited to be going over this weekend.’ Hastings senior — speaking as Doddie Weir’s charity, My Name’5 Doddie

Foundation, and respite centre Leuchie House announced they will join golf’s European Tour Foundation as official charity partners of the Scottish Open at Gullane next month — knows his son has had to battle hard to break through compared to when he played. ‘I think the game’s physicality is extraordinary now,’ he said. ‘You probably need more luck to avoid serious injury than you would have done back in the day. ‘It’s probably harder to get to that top level. But he has only played one game and, knowing my son the way I do, I don’t think he’ll be satisfied if this is the summit of his achievements.’