Stuart Hogg, the former Scotland sensation, dropped a bombshell on the rugby world, confessing the personal turmoil and the raw reasons behind his dramatic return to the sport. After a brief hiatus, which saw him retire in 2023 only to step back onto the field with Montpellier a year later, Hogg opens up about the void that pushed him back into the arms of rugby.
In an emotional reveal, Hogg shared with The Rugby Paper, "I missed the buzz, the changing room, the banter. I missed rugby more than I ever realized." His decision to initially hang up his boots was a desperate bid to salvage his crumbling marriage—a battle he ultimately lost, leading to a cocktail of anti-depressants and alcohol to numb the pain. "I was up to my eyeballs on anti-depressants. I didn’t know what was going on in life, whether I was making people happy or sad. I used alcohol to escape. I was purely existing," he admitted.
"The Doddie Aid cycle ride from Scotland to Rome changed everything. For the first time since retiring, I felt part of a team again. I came back and told my dad, ‘I’ve made the biggest mistake of my life.’"
The rugged fullback's life took a turn for the better with his move to Montpellier, not just in his professional life but also in his personal dealings. Following the finalization of his divorce, he was granted a relaxed non-harassment order, allowing him to maintain contact with his ex-wife for co-parenting their children, signaling a brighter chapter. "Things are improving on that front, which I’m grateful for, so things are definitely improving for me and my family," Hogg reflected.
Amidst the newfound stability in France, living just a stone's throw from the beach and the rugby pitch, Hogg has started to rebuild his life. "The players and coaches value me, maybe because I finally value myself. I’m in a better place mentally than I have been in years," he shared. This shift from a self-admitted selfish phase to a more selfless outlook marks his growth not just as a player but as a person.
"I used to think being selfish was strength. But I took that too far. I hurt people. Now, I’m learning to be selfless for the right reasons – for my kids, my partner, my team."
Hogg's story is not just about his return to rugby; it's about tackling life head-on, learning from past mistakes, and most importantly, healing. With rugby as his constant, the sport has not just been a career but a lifeline, pulling him back from the brink. "I’m living in the now... Now I just want to play until I can’t play anymore. Rugby will always be part of my life – 100 percent," Hogg concluded, his heart firmly rooted in the game.
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Stuart Hogg, the former Scotland sensation, dropped a bombshell on the rugby world, confessing the personal turmoil and the raw reasons behind his dramatic return to the sport. After a brief hiatus, which saw him retire in 2023 only to step back onto the field with Montpellier a year later, Hogg opens up about the void that pushed him back into the arms of rugby.
In an emotional reveal, Hogg shared with The Rugby Paper, "I missed the buzz, the changing room, the banter. I missed rugby more than I ever realized." His decision to initially hang up his boots was a desperate bid to salvage his crumbling marriage—a battle he ultimately lost, leading to a cocktail of anti-depressants and alcohol to numb the pain. "I was up to my eyeballs on anti-depressants. I didn’t know what was going on in life, whether I was making people happy or sad. I used alcohol to escape. I was purely existing," he admitted.
"The Doddie Aid cycle ride from Scotland to Rome changed everything. For the first time since retiring, I felt part of a team again. I came back and told my dad, ‘I’ve made the biggest mistake of my life.’"
The rugged fullback's life took a turn for the better with his move to Montpellier, not just in his professional life but also in his personal dealings. Following the finalization of his divorce, he was granted a relaxed non-harassment order, allowing him to maintain contact with his ex-wife for co-parenting their children, signaling a brighter chapter. "Things are improving on that front, which I’m grateful for, so things are definitely improving for me and my family," Hogg reflected.
Amidst the newfound stability in France, living just a stone's throw from the beach and the rugby pitch, Hogg has started to rebuild his life. "The players and coaches value me, maybe because I finally value myself. I’m in a better place mentally than I have been in years," he shared. This shift from a self-admitted selfish phase to a more selfless outlook marks his growth not just as a player but as a person.
"I used to think being selfish was strength. But I took that too far. I hurt people. Now, I’m learning to be selfless for the right reasons – for my kids, my partner, my team."
Hogg's story is not just about his return to rugby; it's about tackling life head-on, learning from past mistakes, and most importantly, healing. With rugby as his constant, the sport has not just been a career but a lifeline, pulling him back from the brink. "I’m living in the now... Now I just want to play until I can’t play anymore. Rugby will always be part of my life – 100 percent," Hogg concluded, his heart firmly rooted in the game.