Former Scotland international Stuart Hogg pleads guilty to domestic abuse charge

At that hearing, he was bailed with special conditions banning him from contacting Gillian and approaching her address near Hawick, Roxburghshire. The allegations involve relate to a seven-year spell, including claims of stalking and controlling behaviour at addresses across the country.

He is charged with engaging in a course of conduct which caused Gillian fear and alarm, between January 2017 and March 2019, in Glasgow and Hawick. Prosecutors claim he acted aggressively, shouted and swore, repeatedly accused her of cheating on him, repeatedly attempted to control family life, monitored her communication with others and repeatedly tracked her movements.

He is also accused of acting in a similar manner at properties in Hawick and Devon, between April 2019 and March, 2024, and is said to have repeatedly sent her messages of an alarming and distressing nature, making threats to harm himself.

The third charge against states he had been released on an undertaking not to approach her in any way apart from arranging child contact, but contacted her at her home on March 30, 2024.

Hogg retired from rugby before last year’s World Cup after racing up a century of caps and turning out for the British and Irish Lions in three tours. As well as winning national and European titles with Exeter Chiefs and Glasgow Warriors, he is holds the record as Scotland’s all-time leading try scorer.

He was awarded an MBE in the 2024 New year Honours List for services to rugby union and revealed in November 2023 that he was in a relationship with Sky Sport commentator Leonna Mayor after the birth of his fourth child. After his arrest in February he told his followers on social media he had a “reset” at a rehabilitation clinic.

He wrote: “I was lost, needed help, direction, time away from the spotlight to be able to take a deep breath and think.

“I’ve been so concerned about what people thought of me, how I was coming across, the impact I would have on them and how I would survive the day. I lived every moment in my head and it wasn’t healthy.

“Spending time at a rehabilitation centre, allowed me to reset, learn about myself and talk about how I felt, without being judged. It’s not been easy but it was the right thing to do.

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“Taking accountability was the first step in the right direction. I accept I have made mistakes and understand why l acted as I did.”

Despite retiring from rugby last year, last month it was revealed Hogg signed a two-year deal with French side Montpellier.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 2pm on Tuesday, 2 July, 2024, officers attended at an address in Hawick and a 32-year-old man was arrested and charged. He is due to appear at Jedburgh Sheriff Court on Wednesday, 3 July.”