Disgraced former Scotland captain Stuart Hogg has called his 2023 decision to retire from rugby the “biggest mistake” of his life, stating he did it to try and save his marriage.
The 33-year-old, who reversed his retirement last summer to join French club Montpellier, was sentenced to a community payback order in January after pleading guilty to domestic abuse of his ex-wife, Gillian.
Hogg, who won 100 Scotland caps, told The Rugby Paper he was “purely existing” and “up to his eyeballs in anti-depressants” before retiring. He admits using alcohol to escape his personal turmoil, saying, “I hurt people.”
Since returning to the game, the former Exeter and Glasgow full-back says he’s in a better mental place, having found “peace” and learned to be “selfless” for his children and team.
He credits a charity cycle ride with making him realize he missed the camaraderie of rugby.
Hogg was granted bail last year to play in France after breaching a court order to avoid contact with his ex-wife.
