Rugby: Hastings leads tributes to Brown

Scotland legend Gavin Hastings paid tribute to his British Lions predecessor Gordon Brown and admitted some of the laughter had gone out of the game with his passing.

Brown passed away after a long battle against cancer.

The former international forward was 53.

Hastings attended a tribute dinner for Brown in London a fortnight ago and recalled that even then, the gentle giant from Troon was still in a jovial mood.

"All the indications were that he wasn't going to last very long," said Hastings.

"But it said something about him that 1,400 people turned up to the event.

"He crammed so much into his life and brought a lot of joy into other people's.

"He will be sadly missed all round the world; a bit of fun and laughter has gone out of it."

Hastings recalled a story Brown told at his own expense when he acted as a television summariser during the 1991 World Cup.

In a tense semi-final against England at Murrayfield, Hastings had a penalty chance which would have put Scotland in a winning position.

"If he misses it I will eat my hat," said Brown from the commentary box.

Hastings did miss and England went on to win 9-6 before losing to Australia in the final.

"Gordon didn't have to eat his hat but what he did agree to do was spend a day Morris dancing," said Hastings.

"He got fully kitted out and thought he looked a bit stupid. But he entered into the spirit of the event.

"When the bloke in charge sent him a letter a couple of weeks later, Gordon thought it was to tell him what an embarrassment he had been. Instead, he said 'you were brilliant, come back any time'. It just typified his attitude to life.

"Because there wasn't the same kind of television coverage we have now, I didn't see as much of him playing as I would have liked.

"But you were very much aware of him on the British Lions tour - a proud Scot and a great team player."