Adam Hastings admitted he was emotional after earning his first Scotland cap in 19 months against USA after a torrid run of injuries.
Before guiding Scotland to a 42-7 win in Washington on Friday night, Hastings previous outing for his country came in the 2022 Autumn Nations Series.
The fly-half has endured a terrible run of injuries and has had four operations on shoulder, ankle and knee issues in the past two years.
It led him to question whether he’d ever make it back to the international arena.
Reflecting on an “amazing” return, Hastings said: “The past 18 months I have been wondering when I might get that shot again.
“At the end of the season I was targeting a final with Gloucester and hoping off the back of a few good performances they might bring me [on tour].”
“It was amazing to be back out there, pull on the thistle, sing the anthem. It was a bit emotional to be honest.
“I didn't know when it would happen again and I'm so glad it was there. It is good to be back in the squad with some familiar faces.”
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Those familiar faces included half-back partner George Horne, six years on from the pair lining up together for their Scotland debuts on a tour of North America.
Hastings said having some familiar faces helped his reintegration into the national team.
He added: “I think that put me at ease a little bit having the same faces around like George Horne at nine.
“I've played a hell of a lot of rugby with him in the past and it was nice having those guys I've played loads of rugby with there. I think it settled me.”
Familiarity will also help Hastings later this summer when he returns to Glasgow Warriors after three seasons with Gloucester.
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The 27-year-old said leaving Kingsholm was a hugely difficult decision, and one he agonised about before finally opting on a return to Scotstoun.
“It was probably one of the hardest decisions I have ever had to make,” Hastings admitted.
“I was sat in my living room debating with myself and changing my mind over and over again.
“There was a pull to come back [to Glasgow] for various reasons, but I can't fault how amazing Gloucester were with me, especially George Skivington. I owe a lot to them.
"They were brilliant in the way they treated me and that's what made it so hard.”
Hastings knows he will have his work cut out to usurp Tom Jordan as Glasgow’s starting fly-half after he helped the club to the United Rugby Championship title.
Hastings, who watched the final with his dad, Scotland legend Gavin, continued: “I was cheering them on in the final and I'm so glad they got it done.
“It was incredible watching them with my old man in the living room.
“It will be tough to break into that team because they are going so well, so I'll just have to get in and soak it all up.”
If he had stayed at Gloucester, Hastings would not have been available for the final match of the tour against Uruguay. It falls outwith World Rugby’s summer international window, meaning Scotland’s exiles will not be available.
But having had a first taste of Test rugby in a couple of years, Hastings is hoping for more in South America.
He said: “I'd hope to play a part in the rest of the tour. Chile are a decent enough team and Uruguay went really well in the World Cup so it would be cool to play them.”
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