The heavens open and rain buckets down in apocalyptic fashion in the West End of Glasgow as Adam Hastings answers the phone from Montpellier.
The weather on the South coast of France? A balmy 35 degrees. A dip in the Mediterranean Sea to cool down after training is infinitely more appealing than splashing in the puddles around Scotstoun.
With Autumn arriving, the allure of the Mediterranean coast becomes even more irresistible, but Hastings’ decision to embrace a new opportunity with Montpellier wasn’t as straightforward as it would be for so many.
Why? His affinity for Glasgow Warriors. The 29-year-old is as affable as ever as he discusses his decision to leave this summer, but he’s also realistic.
Hastings acknowledges that an element of the fanbase will be disillusioned over his decision to depart for the second time. He understands that but it’s impossible not to grasp the warmth the fly-half has for the club that gave him the platform, to live out his dreams and provided some of his happiest memories.
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“It's tricky because I don't think people realise how much we care about the team,” admitted Hastings in an exclusive interview with Scotland Rugby News.
"That is a thing, though. People maybe think it's just a job, but you do really care about the club.
“I understand whenever anyone leaves a club, there's a small minority that think they'll give you a bit of s*** for it or whatever. People don't understand the bonds you make in the team.
“You're moving away. It affects your partner. It affects your family, moving clubs. I care so much about the club. They gave me my start in rugby. Dave Rennie gave me my start. He helped me so much.
“That first period at Glasgow is probably some of my fondest rugby memories. My second two years there were unbelievable when we got all the way to the final. Just the bonds I made with some of those boys.
“Just coming back, it was different. Very different. The boys were older. Everyone had families, it was crazy - even some of the young boys. I always speak about Stafford (McDowall), because before I left, he was on the brink of losing his job. Then I come back and he's in the leadership group, setting the standards.
“Same with Ollie Smith. He was just a spotty-faced teenager when I was first there. Then I return, and he's unbelievable. It was really cool coming back. I'm thankful to them for having me back and giving me another shot.”
Life as a professional athlete is ultimately a very short career and it’s imperative to make the most of it.
While Hastings remains incredibly grateful for the opportunities that Glasgow provided him, the Scotland international also has personal ambitions. For most, playing in France is the pinnacle in rugby, for so many reasons, and Hastings is no different.
“I'm very open about it because anytime you leave a club, it's horrible, especially with my connection to Glasgow,” he adds.
“When I left Glasgow the first time, that was probably the hardest decision I've ever made. Then coming back to Glasgow as well, even though I had two years there, in my two years at Gloucester, I didn't play as much as I'd like.
“They always treated me so well and I felt so at home there. That was tricky, but I just felt like I was in that rut of injuries and I needed something different. Sometimes that happens in your career.
“You need to go back to home and be close to my family, back with some of my older mates and just get back into a groove again. It kind of turned out like that, thankfully. At the start of my second year there, I had a really, really good run of games.
“I was back playing some of my best stuff before Christmas. It was a tricky decision, that’s the short answer. It's tough because we had such a good team in Glasgow.
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“We were doing so well up until that point last season. But obviously when a big team comes calling from France - it’s difficult to turn down. I obviously know Ali Price out here, which probably helped make my decision a little bit easier as well, just from the way he talked about the place.
“I just felt like it was a time in my life where I'm nearly 30 now and I've always wanted to play in France. Speaking to Pricey and Blair (Kinghorn) about the league, it was quite a hard decision to turn down in a way. It was just exciting. It's a new league. It's another challenge.”
Hastings returned to Glasgow in 2024 after an injury-ravaged spell at Gloucester and the mercurial talent was outstanding in the first-half of last season.
The fly-half was a joy to watch as he recaptured his best form but the trajectory of his campaign mirrored that of Glasgow after the Six Nations break with Dan Lancaster ending the season as first-choice at ten.
“Obviously, it was incredibly frustrating," he continues. "From a personal level as well, I went to the Six Nations and then came back. I just found myself on the bench a bit more, which was frustrating. If you stop getting in the starting team, it's tricky sometimes to break back in. I picked up a ban.
“I had a two-week niggle, which I couldn't play as well. It was just a bit frustrating. It was a bit of stop-start after the Six Nations.
“Sometimes that happens, but it's obviously disappointing that the way we went out in that semi-final as well was just crap.
“It's just one of those things that you hope for the fairytale ending, but sometimes it doesn't happen in that sport, to be honest. You've got to be better at the end of the year. Maybe that's where we kind of fell short. We just seemed to hit a bit of a plateau towards the end of the year.”
Despite being one of many high-profile departures, Hastings is convinced Glasgow will continue to be successful under Franco Smith, citing the ‘outstanding’ leadership group but he’s relishing his new challenge in the Top 14. .
Close friend Ali Price has helped his integration and Hastings - who is undergoing French lessons - will encounter his best friend Blair Kinghorn when Montpellier face Toulouse at the end of the month.
“I'm relishing it,” admitted Hastings. “I played so much rugby when I was younger then missed a lot, so I’m wanting to make up for it. With it being a different league as well, it's refreshing in a way, because everything is new and exciting.
“You get to play at all these cool stadiums in front of packed-out crowds, and the crowds here are mental, as you've probably seen and been told as well. I'm just buzzing to get going.
“The boys are really sound. Everyone's been so welcoming. Obviously, I've played with Pricey for a long time at Glasgow, and it's been good to see him again. We talk quite a lot about how different life is now than back when we were 22 years old, kicking around the West End of Glasgow to now when he's got a couple of kids.
On his reunion with Kinghorn, Hastings added: “We spent a bit of time together in the summer. He came down here with his partner. We had a good day down at the beach in Montpellier. It's been awesome being closer to him. I'm looking forward to playing with him again.
Obviously, we had a few battles with Edinburgh and Glasgow. One of my favourite times was during Covid. We drove to the game together.
“I was staying at my mum and dad's and he came and picked me up when we were playing against each other. I think it was for his 150th cap - Glasgow won.
“Obviously, we played against Toulouse with Glasgow last season. That was good fun. I'm looking forward to playing up there as well. Maybe stay at his after and grab a few beers!”
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