SCOTLAND centurion Stuart Hogg made shockwaves across the rugby landscape when he announced his immediate retirement last month having previously been set to bow out after the World Cup.
Scotland’s record try scorer decided to hang up his boots because he felt his body was letting him down. Knee surgery had hindered his ability to replicate his blistering form of previous years and Hogg admits he fell out of love with playing the game.
Hogg, 31, who scored 27 tries for Scotland, told The Rugby Paper: “I always had high standards in what I was trying to achieve but unfortunately the body let me down which is disappointing.
“I decided enough was enough and my body was affecting my mood. Being around my wife with three kids and another on the way, it’s not a healthy environment for me to be involved in when I feel like this. I’ve been in rugby for a very long time and I felt like I’ve given everything that I could possibly give to the game.”
Hogg, who is now a pundit for TNT Sports, added: “I was excited for life after rugby. I got to the point of thinking ‘why wait’. I would have loved to have gone to the World Cup but physically I was nowhere near where I needed to be. I’m not someone who goes into things half-hearted and I got to the point where enough is enough.
“I got to the point where it was becoming a chore and I’d always said to myself whenever rugby became a job it was a time to walk away. I was struggling to get motivated to get my body moving.”
This story is from the August 06, 2023 edition of The Rugby Paper.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the August 06, 2023 edition of The Rugby Paper.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
England can find a little bit of cheer
SO HERE we are on the final day of England’s autumn international series with all of us hoping and expecting Steve Borthwick’s team to win today after three weeks of bitter disappointment.
Stop messing with Marcus - Campese
DAVID Campese believes England are going backwards under Steve Borthwick, who is ‘messing around’ with talisman Marcus Smith.
Being a Lion was the highlight of my career
I PLAYED 19 games and scored 219 points for the Lions, on the tours to South Africa in 1968 and New Zealand in 1971, but I never played in a Test and that was fair enough.
Cook's crew not fazed as they eye tilt at top half
THERE appear to be few signs of second season syndrome at Westcombe Park as captain Nick Cook reveals the group aren’t even contemplating the threat of relegation and are instead targeting a top-half finish.
Forwards pack a punch for the Reds
OLD Redcliffians produced a proud defensive effort to take a bonus-point win.
Tom 'Ailes' the achievements of inspirational skipper Riley
SEDGLEY Park No. 8 Tom Ailes says his team relish the competitive nature of National One and is confident the Tigers can rectify their rocky start to the season in weeks to come.
Strachan confident Ampthill will be firing again soon
FRASER Strachan is determined to put Ampthill’s leaky defensive showings behind them and gain some much needed confidence in the run up to Christmas.
It's a whole new ball game for Rigg
WILL Rigg’s ambition was to become a professional cricketer but it is the oval ball rather than The Oval that is his driver now.
Scarratt leads the way for Lightning
LOUGHBOROUGH won a wet and windy East Midlands Derby after having the bonus point in the bag by half-time.
Becconsall: We need to release pressure
WILL Becconsall says Exeter are not spooked by the threat of relegation as they look to turn around their Premiership campaign after starting with six straight defeats.
