SHE’S MY MUM AND MY HERO
His father Gavin is a Scottish rugby legend but Adam Hastings insists the real driving force during his career has been the woman waging a courageous battle against Parkinson’s
SCOTTISH r ugby fans may hold Gavin Hastings in iconic status but, for son Adam, it i s mum Diane who is the superstar. As he prepares for Scotland’s opening game in Yokohama this weekend, the stand-off is buoyed and boosted by the knowledge his mum will be nearby to cheer him on.
Such a scenario appeared a forlorn hope not so long ago.
Back in 2 0 0 3 , Diane was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. She was just 39 years old, Adam just seven, when the lifechanging news was confirmed.
Such adversity drew an already close family even more tightly together.
Gavin and Adam became her support network. Such things as c ooking were a c hall e nge, domestic duties became a shared experience.
Even the most mundane tasks took on near impossible levels.
Travelling became a r e al problem. The confines of an aircraft cabin t oo much to contemplate given how her condition had taken hold.
Yet, three years ago, Diane did travel — to London. There she underwent a course of deep brain stimulation. The surgery involved putting electrodes in the brain that regulate the electrical signals that cause tremors and stiffness because of Parkinson’s disease.
While by no means a cure, it did improve her condition. Last year she was part of a team set up to run the London Marathon called ‘Shake, Rattle and Roll’ to raise funds for the Cure Parkinson’s Trust.
And, much to Adam’s delight, she is also well enough to fly. That means a seat in the stand to watch her beloved son in World Cup action.
‘My mum has been much better ever since her operation and she is now loving life. It will be great to have her in Japan for a few games,’ Adam told Sportsmail.
‘She was at Linlithgow Palace when I was named in the Scotland squad in the first place. It was great to have her there when my name was read out. She is my biggest fan.
‘It was a goal of mine once I was picked to get her out to Japan and it is great she is able to come across. It is just amazing. She is my mum. I look up to her.
‘She did so much for me when I was a youngster. To have her feeling good and better about herself and much more secure about her illness is really nice to see.
‘She has been fighting it for a long time. It was getting worse and worse, it wasn’t awful, but it was getting t here but t he operation was amazing. It has transformed her, helped make her able to come out to Japan. She is an inspiration, my real inspiration.’
As well as his parents Adam will also have his uncle Scott, who is commentating on World Cup games for ITV, to cheer him on out in Japan.
Simply having them around is a huge bonus. When they meet up they will help him relax. Just don’t expect too much rugby talk.
‘We will meet up for a coffee no doubt somewhere in Japan and it will all be very chilled,’ said Adam (right).
‘Talking to them about other things like family stuff will take the pressure off for a bit if I am lucky enough to be playing in any games. ‘I know my dad is always there for advice anyway but he does it privately and would never think of getting involved, especially at a World Cup. ‘He never butts in and when he was watching me as a kid he never shouted or anything like that from the sidelines. ‘I appreciate him for taking that approach. He gave me little hints here and there and still does but that is all. ‘To be honest, a lot of times during my early years in particular it was a case of me figuring things out for myself which was a good thing and now I can think on my feet.’
Hastings is well used to people asking him about his famous father and it is no different at this World Cup.
His dad played in the 1987, 1991 and 1995 tournaments before retiring after the World Cup in South Africa and remains one of the best known faces in Scottish rugby.
‘I am proud of my dad and people ask me what I remember of my dad’s rugby career and his time in the World Cups.
‘The simple answer is nothing because I hadn’t been born,’ smiled Hastings.
‘One person asked whether I was there when he scored I think it was over 40 points alone against Ivory Coast in the 1995 World Cup.
That made me laugh — I wasn’t born until the year after in 1996. Of course I have seen recordings of some of his games with Scotland and the Lions but I always joke they are all in black and white.’
Simply being at the World Cup is a massive moment for Hastings, although he understands he is acting as understudy to Finn Russell.
The Racing 92 player can be world class on his day but Hastings wants to justify being taken as the only other specialist ten. In an injury crisis centre Peter Horne would fill in.
‘Look, we all know how fantastic a player Finn is,’ said Hastings. ‘I know I have to keep improving to challenge him for a starting place.
The better I play and the more pressure I put on Finn is better for me and for Scotland.
‘I like to think I am doing that all the time and, if you had even told me two years ago when I was down at Bath that I would be in Japan at the World Cup with Scotland, I wouldn’t have believed you.
‘Things have improved for me since I joined Glasgow and Gregor (Townsend) took a chance on me at international level. It has been a quick turnaround.
‘What helped was that we had a good last season at Glasgow and now being at the World Cup with Scotland is the icing on the cake for me.
‘I remember four years ago I went to Newcastle to watch Scotland v South Africa in the World Cup. That’s the cool thing about rugby.
‘I watched the last World Cup and now have a chance of playing in this one with my mum and dad at some of the games. That will make me very proud.’