Where fellow Scottish international Andy Nicol first trod, now Scott Hastings has followed - as one of the latest rugby legends to act as an Official Ambassador to the Heineken Cup Final.

Former Scotland and Bath skipper Nicol blazed the trail for Heineken Cup Final ambassadors in 2004/05 when he took on the task for the 2005 Edinburgh final. Since then a number of the modern game's greatest names have followed suit.

And as the Heineken Cup final returns to the Scottish capital on Saturday, 23 May 2009 it is another great Scot, Scott Hastings, who fills the role for the 14th Heineken Cup campaign - Edinburgh 2009.

Hastings never managed to reach a Heineken Cup final. But the 43-year-old does hold the distinction of leading the first Scottish team into action in the tournament back in October, 1996.

Then he was captain of Edinburgh, who were the first Scottish team into action in what was the second season of the competition, although it wasn't the most auspicious of starts at Bath, where the home team led by Andy Robinson ran out convincing winners.

Having got a first-hand taste of the Heineken Cup in its early days, Hastings has more recently been involved with the competition as a commentator for Sky Sports and is relishing his new role as a tournament ambassador.

Once Scotland's most capped player with 65 appearances for his country - 51 of which were in tandem with elder brother Gavin, who made his debut with him against France in 1986 - he played in three World Cups, went on two British & Irish Lions tours and was at the heart of the Scottish Grand Slam campaign in 1990.

In 1989 he played in nine of the 11 games on the Lions' tour of Australia, including the final two Test matches that clinched the series.

He played with Gavin in those two games to become the first set of brothers to play together in a Test for the Lions.

When Gavin was chosen to lead the 1993 Lions to New Zealand, Scott was in the squad, although his tour was cut short by a facial injury that forced him to return home a week before the Test series began.

He spent two years as a full-time professional player with Edinburgh Reivers before seeing out his career with Watsonians, finally retiring from competitive rugby in 2002 after 19 seasons and more than 200 games for his club.

In 1999 he joined brother Gavin at event management company Hastings International. The company were taken over by Platinum One the sports event company two and half years ago where Scott manages sponsorship programmes and events in rugby and golf.

He is heavily involved in the media, writing occasionally for the Sunday Times and providing rugby commentary for a number of broadcasters. Scott is married to Jenny and has two children, Corey and Kerry Anne.

Check out Scott guide to Edinburgh.

Speaking at the Heineken Cup Semi-final draw Scott shares his thoughts on the the tournament so far and the knock-out stages.

“This competition has been absolutely fabulous so far and particularly when you look at Rounds 5 and 6 with the mesmerising outcomes of the groups.”

“In the knockout stages there is an awful lot to be played for.  Each team I believe, whether they are playing at home or away have a great opportunity for success in this tournament. The last eight are so evenly matched, there is nothing to determine who ultimately is going to come through."