Stuart Hogg’s wife speaks out after ex-Scottish rugby captain admits domestic violence | British news

Stuart Hogg’s estranged wife has said “it’s time to start my next chapter” after the former Scotland rugby captain admitted abusing her.

Gillian Hogg thanked supporters in a Facebook post after her husband, 32, pleaded guilty Monday on a single charge of domestic violence over five years between 2019 and 2024.

Ms Hogg said she was “completely overwhelmed” and the “outpouring of support and love washed over me in the most positive way”.

Selkirk Sheriff Court heard Hogg, who stood up for his country 100 times, berated his wife for ‘being no fun’ after drinking too much with his colleagues.

Ms Hogg is said to have suffered a panic attack after he “sent more than 200 text messages within a few hours despite being asked to leave her alone”.

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

The court also heard that Hogg, who now plays for French club Montpellier, used an app to track down his wife and “questioned her whereabouts” as she dropped off the children.

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Hogg and his wife have four children together and are in the process of divorcing.

Ms Hogg said she had thought ‘long and hard’ about posting on Facebook, adding: ‘But there is nothing more important that should come from this than a thank you.

“Thank you to everyone who has reached out to me in ways of love, kindness and support – who has texted, messaged, called, visited, sent flowers.

“Who have given me a hi, a smile, a hug or even just a look to show that they care about me.

“My friends and family picked me up and carried me through it all and I will be forever grateful to them.

“This week especially, I am completely overwhelmed. The outpouring of support and love has washed over me in the most positive way. Thank you.”

Hogg, who made his Scotland debut in 2012 and unexpectedly announced his immediate retirement from international rugby last July, will be sentenced next month.

His barrister Angela Gray KC told the court that individually the incidents were “unlikely to have reached the threshold required for prosecution in the criminal courts” but that he accepted they “did not fall short of what is expected of a spouse”.