Stuart Hogg Denies Playing Victim After Court Reimposes Contact Ban
Disgraced rugby star Stuart Hogg has insisted he is not playing the victim during an extraordinary social media outburst, following a court decision to once again ban him from having direct contact with his former wife. The former Scotland captain, who admitted to carrying out a five-year campaign of domestic abuse, had previously been permitted to communicate with Gillian Hogg solely through a co-parenting phone application.
Court Order Reverts to Original Restrictions
This week, the 33-year-old was blocked from using the app, with his non-harassment order now stipulating that all contact regarding their four children must be conducted exclusively through lawyers. No specific reason was provided to Jedburgh Sheriff Court for why the Crown amended the order back to its original form from when Hogg was first convicted. However, it is understood that his ex-wife expressed significant concerns about the content of messages exchanged on the application.
This development follows an incident in February, when Hogg was stopped at Manchester Airport while returning from France, where he currently plays for Montpellier. He was instructed to report to the police station in his hometown of Hawick, Roxburghshire, and was subsequently interviewed in connection with an alleged breach of the non-harassment order before being released without charge.
Hogg's Social Media Defence
After the court imposed the change, Hogg took to social media to voice his frustrations. He claimed that he had deleted the co-parenting app in February and asserted that it was his own decision to request contact through solicitors. Reacting to media reports, the once-revered rugby player stated: We're back with the same nonsense. I took the decision to delete the app in February. But, let's not allow the truth to get in the way of another headline. PS. I didn't cross the line.
The final comment appeared to be a direct response to a report in the Scottish Sun, which cited a source close to his ex-wife saying she really hoped the app would be a good thing but he stepped over the line and she's done with it.
Denial of Victim Narrative
In response to the social media rant, one individual accused Hogg of playing the victim, to which the rugby player retorted: Far from, actually. He further insisted to another user: I asked for the contact to be done via solicitors and not the app, yes. It's amazing the lengths that people will go to ruin things.
Hogg, who now resides abroad, was excused from attending court on Thursday. His lawyer, Mat Patrick, noted that the application from the Crown was unchallenged and would enable his legal team to discuss child custody arrangements with her lawyers. Granting the application, Sheriff Peter Paterson stated: The order has reverted to the original form.
Background of the Case
The former Glasgow Warriors full-back, capped 100 times for Scotland, was convicted of a single charge of domestic abuse in 2024, resulting in a one-year community payback order. Selkirk Sheriff Court heard that he regularly shouted and swore at his then-wife, tracked her movements, and sent distressing messages over a five-year period.
During his sentencing in January 2025, a five-year non-harassment order was imposed, which had been relaxed in October to allow communication about childcare via the co-parenting app. Last month, it emerged that Hogg had been stripped of the MBE he was awarded for services to rugby.
After leaving his wife, Hogg had a son named Teddy with former jockey Leonna Mayor. The couple went public with their relationship in November 2023, just days after the then Mrs. Hogg gave birth to their fourth child. Earlier this year, it was announced that Mayor and Hogg had split.
