Stuart Hogg: Former Scotland rugby captain pleads guilty to domestic abuse

Former Scotland rugby captain Stuart Hogg has pleaded guilty to domestic abuse against his estranged wife over a five-year period.

The sportsman's behaviour left Gillian Hogg scared and wishing "for it to be morning as soon as possible", a court heard.

The father-of-four arrived at Selkirk Sheriff Court accompanied by his parents and admitted a single charge of domestic abuse between 2019 and 2024.

The charge stated that he engaged "in a course of behaviour which was abusive" to his ex-partner and that he "did shout and swear in an aggressive manner, track her movements (and) send her messages which were alarming and distressing in nature".

The court heard 32-year-old Hogg berated his wife for "not being fun" after going on drinking binges with his colleagues.

He sent "in excess of 200 text messages in a few hours" despite having been asked to leave Mrs Hogg alone, and she had a panic attack due to the messages, the hearing was told.

Prosecutor Drew Long said the couple argued about where they would live and Mrs Hogg was "scared" of her husband when he became angry and would "wish it was morning so he would sober up".

The court also heard Hogg used an app to track his wife and "questioned her whereabouts" while she was dropping the children off.

Hogg, who now plays for French club Montpellier and lives abroad, is in the process of divorce proceedings.

He stood in the dock on Monday wearing a bandage on his hand and a Remembrance Day poppy.

Mrs Hogg decided to leave the former Scotland captain and sought advice from a domestic abuse service, the hearing was told.

Defending Hogg, Angela Gray KC said the incidents in isolation "would have been unlikely to reach the threshold required for a prosecution in the criminal courts".

But Ms Gray said Hogg accepted the incidents had "fallen short of what is expected of a husband".

"It is accepted by Mr Hogg that his conduct, looked at within that framework (of Domestic Abuse Act 2018), was criminal in nature," she added.

The court heard Hogg's behaviour was "never intended to be abusive" and the couple's "deteriorating" relationship was subject to additional "scrutiny placed on it".

Hogg made his Scotland debut in 2012 and went on to make 100 appearances for his country. He also made two appearances for the British and Irish Lions.

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In July last year, Hogg unexpectedly announced his immediate retirement from international rugby, having previously said he would quit after the World Cup.

Hogg will be sentenced on 5 December at Jedburgh Sheriff Court.