Gregor Townsend has suffered a huge blow after Adam Hastings was ruled out of Scotland’s Six Nations campaign.
The Glasgow Warriors fly-half is set to be out for the next few months after undergoing surgery for a fractured jaw suffered in last Friday’s United Rugby Championship victory over the Scarlets.
Hastings was pushed to the ground by giant number eight Vaea Fifita late in the first half and required lengthy treatment before leaving the pitch.
The 28-year-old was taken to hospital over the weekend where he underwent surgery to repair facial fractures before being released home to begin rehabilitation.
Glasgow defense coach Pete Murchie confirmed the player will be out for months rather than weeks.
It is the latest setback for Hastings, son of Scotland’s great Gavin. He was marred by a string of injuries last season for Gloucester, limited to just nine appearances.
Hastings needed urgent treatment after being hit hard by Scarlets’ Vaea Fifita.
The fly-half was assisted off the pitch and subsequent tests revealed a fractured jaw.
The Hastings defeat means Gregor Townsend loses a key squad option for the Six Nations.
He returned to Glasgow in the summer and started the season in good form, with his performances earning him a return to the Scotland squad and starts against Fiji and Portugal.
Hastings would have been the main back-10 behind Finn Russell in Townsend’s Six Nations plans, but now faces competition as injury prevents him from taking part in the Warriors’ Champions Cup pool matches and even the 1872 Cup derbies. With Edinburgh.
Murchie said: ‘It’s been a long recovery process and we wish Adam all the best. We will take care of him and he will receive the best care. I’m a little sick, but I’m glad I had the surgery.
‘It was clear straight away that it was unpleasant. At first I wasn’t fully aware it was my jaw, but it was a huge contact.
‘I think it would be frustrating for that person. It’s been a few years since he had any real bad luck. He knows how to recover and I am confident he will come back. But everyone is upset because of him. He’s starting to put on some really great performances.’
Hastings was an impressive figure in Scotland’s defeat of Portugal in the Autumn Test.
The Warriors cover new Scotland cap Tom Jordan and Hastings veteran Duncan Weir, who featured in the win over the Scarlets.
‘It’s an opportunity for other players to play a little bit more,’ added Murchie.
‘We still have TJ and Dunc, Stafford (McDowall) played there before and we’ve got some young players like Richie (Simpson) and Matty Urwin. So we still have a lot of options and they will have to share the load.’
The Warriors open their European campaign at home to Sale Sharks on Saturday and are being tipped to go far in the competition as dark horses.
Murchie added: ‘It’s great for people to talk about us, but we need to back it up.’ ‘Words are cheap. We have to deliver and we know it.’
