Adam Hastings: Gloucester fly-half on 'hellish' months with injury

Adam Hastings played in Gloucester's anniversary match against Barbarians in October before injury ruled him out

Gloucester fly-half Adam Hastings said the past 18 months have been "fairly hellish" because of repeated injuries that have left him on the sidelines.

He has only played one competitive game this campaign, in the Premiership Rugby Cup win over Coventry in October.

But the Scot is available for Gloucester's Premiership match against Northampton on Saturday.

Last season Hastings also missed four months with a shoulder problem, and played only 10 games.

"The past 18 months have been fairly hellish from a mental point of view," he told BBC Radio Gloucestershire.

"I've managed to string maybe three or four games together then another injury, so it has been tough, but I think this rehab process with my last injury has probably been the smoothest one, with the littlest amount of setbacks I've had.

"I can't thank the physios and strength and conditioning team enough for getting me back in this kind of shape."

Hastings has been capped 27 times by Scotland but was left out of the nation's World Cup team this autumn.

The 27-year-old has typically been Gloucester's first-choice number 10 since joining in 2021, and said he hopes he can make a difference to the team when he returns to the squad.

While Gloucester have won their past two games in the Challenge Cup group stages, against Black Lion and Clermont, they face Saints on a run of six straight losses in the league.

"It's tough anytime you can't play but let alone when the team is losing, it's even tougher because you feel like you can be out there helping," he said.

"You can help behind the scenes and things like that but ultimately there's nothing like being out there with the boys and I can't wait for that."

Gloucester academy graduate George Barton started all eight Premiership games at fly-half during Hastings' injury lay-off, having only ever started four league games in the position previously.

Hastings said he has been "seriously impressed" with the performances from the 23-year-old.

"He was almost like a different player to me from George the previous year, and I think the way the boys have gotten around him and the way he's led from the front has been brilliant," Hastings said.

"Especially as a young player and being a fly-half it can be difficult at times to tell these superstars what to do, but I think he's been brilliant in that."