Hogg: Retirement due to marriage, “the biggest mistake” of his rugby career

Former Scotland captain Stuart Hogg has revealed that his retirement from rugby was an attempt to save his marriage, a decision he now considers the “biggest mistake of his life”. Hogg, who ended his career in 2023 at the age of 31, shortly before the World Cup of that same year, resumed playing in 2024 by signing for the French club Montpellier, after a turbulent period outside of the sport. In November 2024, the British and Irish Lions player admitted to having mistreated his wife Gillian, from whom he is separated. He was sentenced to a five-year non-harassment order and fined for violating bail by repeatedly contacting his ex-partner.

Hogg acknowledges having caused harm to those around him, but has now regained some stability in his life.

I missed the excitement, the outfits, the jokes. I missed rugby more than I ever imagined.

Stuart Hogg

“I gave up my rugby career to try and save my marriage. At that moment I didn’t know who I was. I was submerged in antidepressants. I didn’t know what was happening in life, if I was making people happy or sad. I used alcohol to escape. I simply existed.” The Doddie Aid bike ride from Scotland to Rome changed everything. For the first time since I retired, I felt part of a team again. I went back and told my father: ‘I’ve made the biggest mistake of my life’.

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Now I am in a better place mentally than I have been in years. I used to think that being selfish was a strength, but I went too far. I hurt people. Now I am learning to be selfless for the right reasons: for my children, my partner, my team. I know that I will never be the same Stuart Hogg that I once was, but I am okay with that. I have found peace. Hogg, who won 100 matches with Scotland and played two test matches for the Lions, underwent Achilles surgery in April and has not yet played for Montpellier this season.