Troubled former Scotland rugby captain Stuart Hogg has addressed rumors of an unlikely return to rugby as a player.
The 31-year-old retired in July 2023, just months before Scotland competed in the Rugby World Cup in France.
Hogg cited the physical toll of the game and family obligations that led to his retirement, but recently hinted at a possible return to the game during an interview with Big Jim Show Podcast.
Stuart Hogg talks about how social media abuse led to his retirement! | Unloading RugbyPass, Episode 73
“Would I play professionally again? Probably not,” Hogg told RugbyPass's Jim Hamilton on the Big Jim Show. “Could I have taken time off? Maybe I could have. But the decision now is that I am retired and I am sticking to that.
“Physically and mentally I wasn't there.”
Hogg has teased the prospect of being involved with his hometown club Hawick next season.
“I think I will play, (but) I don't think I will play professionally. I might have a bit of a break at Hawick next season and I'll see how it goes.
Hogg had jokingly responded to a story claiming he would be returning to rugby, writing on Instagram: “Great, who's going to sign me then? I'm 100% excited.”
The former Exeter boss and Glasgow Warriors star has had a turbulent time off the field and found himself the subject of numerous tabloid reports.
Despite his move into the media with TNT Sports, he has been absent from television screens recently, with many assuming his ongoing difficulties away from sports are to blame following the public breakdown of his marriage.
In March, he was arrested and charged after an incident at his family home in Hawick, and he will appear in court on Tuesday over the matter.
Hogg has since spent time in rehab and expressed his gratitude for the fan support.
“Spending time in rehab allowed me to reset, get to know myself, and talk about how I felt, without being judged,” Hough wrote on Instagram recently.
“It wasn't easy, but it was the right thing to do. Taking responsibility was the first step in the right direction. I accept that I made mistakes and I understand why I behaved the way I did.
Hogg added: “The personal and private issues being brought into the public eye and online abuse are things that have affected me greatly. I haven't been able to deal with them. Online abuse is not acceptable.”
“Spending time away has allowed me to see the world differently, be grateful for the things I have, and most importantly, be excited about what is in front of me in the short, medium and long term.”
