Ollie Smith to wear special jersey in memory of Scott Hastings

Ollie Smith wore a special jersey as Scotland remembered Scott Hastings during their match against Fiji on Saturday. Scotland hosted Fiji in their final game of the Nations Championship at Murrayfield, marking the occasion with a tribute to Hastings, who suddenly passed away in May at the age of 61. Tributes following his death highlighted his esteemed reputation in the rugby world. A warm and gregarious figure, Hastings made 65 Test appearances for Scotland, a record at the time, and wore the number 13 jersey with great distinction.

Smith donned a unique version of the number 13 shirt, featuring gold lettering, which honored Hastings's legacy. Inside the numbers were the names of the teams Hastings played for during his career and some of his notable achievements. Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend explained, "We’ve thought about what we can do just to make sure Scott’s legacy as a Scotland player is on show. I know there’ll be a build-up before the game. There will be messages to supporters, and people watching on TV will get the tributes to Scott."

Townsend shared a personal connection, recalling iconic moments of Hastings playing in the 13 jersey against England during the Grand Slam game in 1990. He stated, "The message we want to send out there is Scott, ‘you were the 13 for so many years’, so we’re going to have that number in gold and it’ll stand out."

An anticipated attendance of 50,000 at Murrayfield for the Fiji Test added significance to the event, turning it into a heartfelt tribute. Hastings was not only a prominent figure in Scottish rugby but also played for the British and Irish Lions, touring Australia in 1989 and New Zealand in 1993, the latter of which his brother Gavin captained. Throughout his career, he wore the Lions jersey 12 times and made 13 appearances for the Barbarians. A highlight of Hastings's career was the Grand Slam victory in 1990 against England, where he famously made a try-saving tackle on Rory Underwood.

In recognition of his impressive career, Hastings was inducted into the Scottish Rugby Hall of Fame last autumn, honoring his 11 years on the international stage. The match against Fiji served not just as a sporting event, but as a moment for the rugby community to celebrate one of its favorite sons.