“More information will be shared in due course to celebrate Scott’s incredible life.”
Hastings won 65 caps for Scotland over 11 years, represented the Lions on 12 occasions across two tours and played 13 games for the Barbarians.
Hastings, whose elder brother Gavin captained the Lions against the All Blacks in 1993 and played 61 times for Scotland at fullback, is the most-capped Scottish male centre of all time.
Adam Hastings, the current Scotland back, is Scott’s nephew.
Scott Hastings (right) and Englishman Will Carling tackle Steve Hirini of the New Zealand Maori on the 1993 Lions tour. Photo / Getty Images
Upon retiring, Hastings had a successful media career as both a commentator and pundit across both XVs and sevens, for both Sky and ITV.
Sir Ian McGeechan, former Scotland and Lions head coach, said: “My association with Scott and his brother Gavin was always special for me because we came into the Scotland set-up, myself as coach, and Scott and Gavin as players, at the same time. We came in together and we grew together.
“I remember Scott on the Lions tours taking an absolute lead. He was so single-minded and determined about winning.
“He was very much your right-hand man, given what he did on the field. I still remember the Grand Slam game against England in 1990. There was his Lions teammate from the previous year, Jerry Guscott, in the England team, but Scott gave nothing away to him whatsoever.
“Whatever jersey Scott wore, he just made it better.”
“Scottish Rugby extends its heartfelt sympathies to Corey, Kerry-Anne, and Scott’s wider family, led by brothers Graeme, Gavin and Ewan and all his many friends,” the SRU said.
“The flag will fly at half-mast at Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium in tribute to one of Scotland’s finest sons. We will share details of the funeral service once these are finalised.”
All Blacks winger Terry Wright gets his kick away under pressure from Scott Hastings in 1990. Photo / NZ Herald
Brian Moore, Telegraph Sport columnist and former international, paid tribute to his former British and Irish Lions teammate during the BBC’s Women’s Six Nations coverage.
“I got to know Scott very well on two Lions tours,” he said. “He was a roommate of mine on several occasions and he was a man I got to know very well … of huge integrity, honest and empathy. That is testament to any human being’s legacy.
“As a player, his partnership with Jeremy Guscott was seminal to us beating Australia in 1989. One thing you always got with Scott, in extremis or when on top, he gave nothing less than his best. You knew he would never let you down for effort.
“Those who knew Scott will know what we have lost; those in the wider rugby world who did not know him, rugby is much the poorer for his passing but very much the better for his being.”