Free-roaming Hastings ready for Dragons test

In a campaign that’s seen the 24-year-old reach 50 appearances for the club, injuries and international call-ups have restricted Hastings to just seven outings in Glasgow colours in the 2020/21 season.

Yet restored to full fitness, the Gloucester-bound fly-half is enjoying causing mayhem for opposition defences once more.

“It’s been a frustrating season for me personally,” admitted Hastings when speaking to glasgowwarriors.org.

“I had my first major injury of my career earlier this year, then came back, had another layoff, came back again and had the facial fracture. It’s been stop start to say the least!

“It’s been tricky but it’s been so good to get back out there. I was raring to go against Edinburgh and really enjoyed playing at full-back – it’s obviously a different position to normal for me, but I enjoyed getting my hands on the ball a fair amount in space, something I always enjoy.

“It was really good fun being back out there with the boys.”

As the man himself alluded to, it was a different shirt to the norm that was awaiting Hastings following his selection for the 31-24 victory over Edinburgh a fortnight ago. With Ross Thompson grabbing headlines this season at fly-half, Hastings seamlessly slotted into the number 15 jersey at BT Murrayfield

With 117 metres made with ball in hand – more than any other player in round three of the Rainbow Cup – and a try to cap a swashbuckling performance, it’s safe to say the move was a successful one for Head Coach Danny Wilson and his squad.

“I still prefer playing at 10, but I do really enjoy full-back,” smiled Hastings.

“You have a bit of a licence to roam, you can pop up wherever and you play that second playmaker role to help take the pressure off the 10. As a fly-half I know how important it is to have that second playmaker, so it’s been really enjoyable to take on that role. Thankfully I found myself in a bit of space a fair few times at BT Murrayfield, and it’s always enjoyable to run with the ball!

“I’ve always enjoyed taking the ball to the line and if space opens up then I’ll have a go. On a good day with quick ball at full-back, chances are you’ll find those open spaces.

“It’s been good to have a go and take defenders on – I’m sure there’ll be less enjoyable days at full-back where it’s chucking it down and there are high balls coming left and right, but thankfully the couple of games I’ve played there have had decent weather!”

After a weekend off following their impressive performance last time out, the Warriors are back in action this weekend as they hit the road to take on the Dragons in the unfamiliar surroundings of Cardiff City Stadium.

Despite their current position of fourth in the Rainbow Cup standings, it’s all about the task in hand for Hastings and company; with the Newport-based outfit having done the double over Wilson’s men already this season, there will be no sense of taking the opposition lightly under the floodlights this weekend.

“They’re a good team who have the ability to really hurt you with the ball,” said Hastings.

“They’ve got some big, physical ball-carriers and they’re happy to go through big sets of defence in order to win the ball back. They’ve got some key attackers in that back-line who can drive things for them, too, they’re a strong unit.

“We’re not underestimating them at all – they’ve beaten us twice this season already so for us it’s all about going out, proving a point and turning in a really good performance.

“The last two weeks have shown what we can do. The key has just been focusing on ourselves, really – we’re not worried about what anyone else is doing and we’ll take everything week by week.

“Our focus is on our next job, and that’s getting the right result against the Dragons on Saturday.”