Former Scotland captain Stuart Hogg has pleaded guilty to a charge of domestic abuse over a five-year period against his ex-partner. In February 2024, the 32-year-old was arrested outside his estranged wife’s home in Hawick for acting in a threatening or abusive manner.
Hogg, who was also capped by the British and Irish Lions, appeared at Selkirk Sheriff Court and admitted sending around 200 text messages in just a few hours to Gillian Smith following the breakup of his marriage.
He also accepted he used phone apps to track his former partner’s location.
The court heard that Hogg would regularly go out drinking before returning home and behaving abusively. The former Glasgow Warriors and Exeter Chiefs full-back would swear at his ex-wife and accuse her of “not being fun” for opting to stay upstairs with their children.
Smith was said to be frequently left afraid and wishing “for it to be morning as soon as possible.” Her and Hogg have four children together, and got married in August 2016.
In November 2023, shortly after the birth of their fourth child, Hogg publicly revealed he was in a new relationship with commentator Leonna Mayor. The 34-year-old has worked for ITV racing and Sky Sports racing.
Following his arrest this year, Hogg attended a rehabilitation centre. He later claimed on social media he had been able to ‘reset’ during therapy sessions.
Hogg, who earlier this year was awarded an MBE for his services to rugby union, his regarded as one of Scotland’s greatest ever players. He won 100 caps at international level, and his haul of 27 tries puts him third on the all-time list for his country.
The Melrose-born player was made Scotland captain for the 2020 Six Nations, and kept the armband for a further three years. During that period, he became the first man to lead the Scots to successvie wins over England.
He also toured with the Lions on three occasions, in 2013, 2017, and 2021. He had been considered in-line to be in the starting XV for the 2017 test series in New Zealand but his tour was cut short by injury, but he did play two tests in South Africa four years later.
But in March 2023, Hogg announced his intention to retire from professional rugby after the World Cup in France. He duly left fans stunned in July, when, two months before the tournament, he confirmed he was retiring with immediate affect, citing his desire to take up a new career path.
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