Former Scotland international and British and Irish Lions full-back Stuart Hogg has pleaded not guilty on three charges, including stalking, in court on Tuesday.
According to BBC Scotland, the ex-Glasgow and Exeter player has been ordered to stay away from his estranged wife and her home ahead of his trial in the summer.
Hogg, 31, appeared at Jedburgh Sheriff Court and pleaded not guilty to a domestic charge of acting in an abusive manner towards the mother of his four children.
Not guilty pleas
Hogg also entered not guilty pleas for causing fear and alarm during a disturbance, and not complying with an undertaking after his release from police custody.
Scotland‘s all-time leading try scorer, who announced his retirement from the sport before last year’s Rugby World Cup, was accompanied to court by his parents.
The three-time Lions tourist has been granted bail with special conditions not to contact his estranged wife or to enter her home in the East Boonraw area of Hawick.
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Hogg, who won 100 caps for his country, is set to return to court on July 15 for an intermediate hearing ahead of his trial on July 30, BBC Scotland confirmed.
The retired player received an MBE in the 2024 New Year’s Honours List for services to rugby union. Hogg twice won the Six Nations Player of the Championship.
Last month Hogg revealed that he has spent time in a rehabilitation centre where he said he has been able to “reset” with some “time away from the spotlight”.
“I was lost, needed help, direction, time away from the spotlight to be able to take a deep breath and think,” he said at the time.
Time in rehab
“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. Taking accountability was the first step in the right direction. I accept I have made mistakes and understand why l acted as I did.”
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Sophie Anderson, a UK-based writer, is your guide to the latest trends, viral sensations, and internet phenomena. With a finger on the pulse of digital culture, she explores what’s trending across social media and pop culture, keeping readers in the know about the latest online sensations.
