Born in Edinburgh in January 1962, Gavin Hastings completed his formal education at Cambridge University some 24 years later, after earlier schooling at George Watsons College in Edinburgh and Paisley University.

His rugby career reached new heights at Cambridge winning 2 blues and captaining them in the 1985 Varsity Match, only weeks before winning his first cap for Scotland in the 1986 Five Nations Championship against France alongside his brother Scott.

He kicked 6 penalty goals on his debut to give Scotland victory by 18 points to 17. Eight years later both he and Scott turned out in the corresponding fixture at Murrayfield, Edinburgh to collect their 50th caps together.