Hastings gives verdict on potential rugby breakaway league plan

Murmurings of a new global competition have lingered across recent months but they were consolidated by several reputable reports last week that powerbrokers are aiming to launch the league in 2026.

It’s understood that plans are still in their infancy but organisers - believed to be mainly US based - are targeting luring the best players in the world with some established stars already privately expressing an interest.

While it’s been reported that the breakaway league wouldn’t interfere with the current rugby calendar, the potential consequences on international availability were cited by Hastings but the Scotland fly-half believes the plans could be ‘pretty cool’. 

When asked if leading players would be interested in the potential opportunity, Hastings replied: “Potentially. You've also got to look at the history and things in the other leagues as well. You don't want them to die out.

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“It would be interesting to see how it would coincide with the internationals. Would it be like the Japan stuff? If you go play in Japan you kind of count yourself out for internationals. Look, there are a lot of moving parts.”

“If they could get it going over there it would be awesome, wouldn't it? If it was one of the most popular sports, and you see how they do sport over there - it's pretty impressive. The media backing behind it and the way they put players on a pedestal, it would be pretty cool.

“Obviously they're trying to create a new spin on it. It's interesting to see. Whether it would work would be a whole different story I'd imagine. It's one of those things that's kind of hearsay until it happens.”

While the rumoured breakaway league is a major talking point in rugby currently, Hastings’ full focus remains on Scotland’s final Autumn Nations test against Australia before returning to domestic duty with Glasgow. 

The 28-year-old faces an unfortunate predicament with Scotland as no matter how impressively he plays, Finn Russell is Gregor Townsend’s first-choice at No.10. 

Russell is arguably the best fly-half in the world and his selection is completely understandable, as are any frustration from Hastings. The Glasgow star was excellent against Fiji but dropped out the squad completely against South Africa, due to the 6-2 bench split, before returning as Russell rested against Portugal.

“It’s been mixed emotions,” Hastings commented on the Autumn Nations Series. “I felt I went really, really well against Fiji.

“To miss out on the 6-2 bench is obviously a shame. I understand it. We go 6-2 quite a lot at Glasgow and they choose to put a 10 on the bench usually, so it's just different here and that's the way it is. I did all I could the week before and put my hand up, but unfortunately it wasn't meant to be.”

On orchestrating a makeshift Scotland side to a comfortable win over Portugal, Hastings added: "I think that's why it was maybe a bit tricky at times (because it wasn’t a regular team). Just things weren't quite falling into the shape or just missing a man on a certain pod, things like that. 

“It was a challenge, but I thought we did really well. There was a lot of communication. We definitely created enough chances, and what was the score? I think it was 59 points. You can't complain too much, but I think we'll still look back and there's stuff to work on as well.” 

Realistically, Hastings faces a similar predicament this weekend when Australia visit Murrayfield with Russell to return for Scotland’s final test until the Six Nations in February but he’d love to be involved against Joe Schmidt’s improving side. 

“They're on fire at the moment as well, obviously just beating England,” Hastings said. “They've got a lot of firepower and they're kind of hitting form again, so it will be a really tight game, I'd imagine.”

While Hastings is battling with Russell for the fly-half jersey at Scotland, Tom Jordan provides the competition at Glasgow. The New Zealand-born only gained eligibility for Scotland last month after moving to play for Ayrshire Bulls in 2019 but he’s leaving Glasgow at the end of the season after a lucrative offer from Bristol Bears. 

Hastings and Jordan share a good relationship and the former is delighted that the new Scotland cap has acclimated seamlessly to play out of position at full-back on the international stage. 

“He's brilliant, isn't he? He can play pretty much anywhere on that back line. I'm just so impressed with the way he's taken to international rugby, to be honest. Even in that Fiji game he came on, he's so confident. 

“Then South Africa, to play at 15 where he's not played much before, to slot in there and do an absolute job, and then on Saturday he was fantastic again. He's done brilliantly, so we're all very happy for him.”

On whether Jordan could play at full-back for Glasgow, Hastings added: “We've got quite a lot of competition there as well. Kyle Rowe has been going absolutely brilliantly there and then obviously Josh McKay. It's a nice spot to be in with the amount of depth we've got.”