Stuart Hogg has suggested a possible return to the rugby field, expressing his keenness to wear his hometown team’s jersey once more.
Speaking on ‘The Big Jim Show’ podcast as a guest, the 100-cap former Scotland full-back, Hogg, found himself in the hot seat when the host, and former Scotland second-row, Jim Hamilton, posed the question: “Are you completely retired from rugby?”
“I’m really enjoying my new life,” he said.
“I still get the match-day buzz – the build-up to the game, the warm-up and stuff. I used to love it, and I’ve had that forever. We used to watch the Border Reivers play back in the day and my dad was obsessed with watching teams warm-up, so we used to be first in the crowd all the time watching teams warm-up, and I love that.
“You get the buzz building up to it but as soon as the whistle goes to kick-off I think: ‘Thank f*ck I’m not playing!’. The first collision you think ‘Oh god, I made the right decision!’.
“Will I play professionally again? Probably not,” he continued.
“Could I have taken a sabbatical? Maybe I could have. But I didn’t want to be in the position of going: ‘I’m going to take this period off and maybe come back’. I needed clarity that I am completely out of it. All in or all out. I couldn’t face sitting now thinking: ‘I’m going to have to continually train to be in a good shape to then come back, I’m going to have to always work on my skills’.
“So, do I do that? Or do I just pull the plug completely, and I thought … well … there wouldn’t be a club in a situation to give me a sabbatical and still pay me money.
“Could I have gone about it a different way? Potentially. But the decision now is that I am retired and I stand by that … physically and mentally I wasn’t there.”
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New career:
Hogg said in a statement: “A new career beckons and I will attack in the same manner as I play the game.”
The Scotland legend has revealed he isn’t too keen on coaching, but will remain in the game as a pundit after making his debut on BBC during the 2023 Six Nations.
PUNDITRY:
Sources tell RUCK that BT Sport (soon to be TNT Sports) are keen. to recruit the fullback as a key part of their 2023/24 Premiership coverage.
RESTAURANT OWNER:
He is the co-owner of steak house Finsbay Flatiron in Glasgow.
The focus for Finsbay Flatiron is steak, specialising in 8oz flat irons (as the name suggests) and steaks from £8 on weekdays and £10 on weekends, as well as sides like mac and cheese and triple cooked chips.
KNITWEAR:
Away from rugby, Hogg has a number of passions. In 2018, he linked up with Scottish business Johnstons of Elgin, maker of cashmere knitwear and fine woollens, to bring out a range of his own jumpers, zips and hoodies. It is where his dad John worked for many years, and the company is based in his hometown Hawick. “I’m passionate about wearing local garments and it’s great to have an opportunity to have my own range.”
HORSE RACING:
He is also a big horseracing fan, having once revealed his sporting hero is AP McCoy, who was champion jockey for a record 20 consecutive times. “My passion for horses has endured, though, and when you think of horse racing you think of AP McCoy,” he once told the BBC. “I just loved AP, he was the only jockey who always wore the same colours, the green and yellow stripes with the white hat. It soon became apparent that was AP McCoy, and he was the big dog.”
DISTILLERY:
He’s a director of a distillery named Maiden Batch.
Caulker’s is a collaborative effort between five Glasgow men, two of whom happen to be British Lions and Scotland rugby internationals, Hogg and Alastair Kellock. The bottle is signed by all five.
New partner
Hogg ignited a public scandal by unveiling his romance with TV presenter and ex-jockey Leonna Mayor back in December. The couple indulged in a cozy spa weekend, showcasing their newfound love on Mayor’s Instagram.
Adding salt to the wound, Hogg chose an inopportune moment to flaunt his budding relationship, as it unfolded just hours after his ex-wife Gillian gave birth to their baby girl.
The 32-year-old Mayor, renowned for her past achievements as a flat-racing jockey with 32 victories between 2009 and 2013, has seamlessly transitioned into the world of television presenting. She has graced screens with her presence on ITV Racing and Sky Sports Racing, simultaneously serving as an ambassador for William Hill.
Mayor’s professional journey has taken her to iconic racing events like the Grand National, Ascot, and Glorious Goodwood, earning her recognition in the industry. Beyond the racetrack, Mayor has cultivated an Instagram following of 31,000, sharing glamorous snapshots from her globetrotting adventures.
She was also dubbed the ‘world’s sexiest jockey’ when she took part in a photo shoot with Zoo Magazine in 2013. Speaking about the shoot, she said: “I know the reasons I did it and I think they were the right reasons. It didn’t do anyone any harm and I don’t regret it.
“I didn’t get my boobs out and never would do that. I hope to have children in the future and there’s nothing they could find on the internet I would be ashamed of, nothing at all.
“I think because I’m a girl with a certain image I have to work harder. I still believe people look at someone like me and think, ‘There’s a bimbo’. I find it really offensive when people say I only get work on television because I’m pretty.
“It’s not like I’m just standing there in front of a camera doing nothing,” she added. “We all know people who have got jobs for the wrong reasons. I’ve got jobs because I’ve worked hard, proved myself and made things happen.”
Rumours now suggest the pair have already split, but nothing has been confirmed.
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Other rugby players now making it big in business after smart investments
With the time in elite sport forever shortening, rugby players would be smart to look to the future and invest in businesses too, like these current and ex-pros…
When they’re not smashing each other on the pitch, rugby players with one eye on the future could do worse than taking steps into the world of business.
If they’re lucky, professionals might enjoy careers lasting about 15 years in the sport – and taking up a job as a coach or media pundit after retirement isn’t for everyone.
No sector has been left unturned by players from across all levels of the game in their investments as they seek to set themselves up for life and regain focus after hanging up their boots.
Here’s some of the most prominent rugby players to have made waves in business.
Jack Nowell
The England and Exeter Chiefs winger is the co-owner of The Swordfish Inn back in his hometown of Cornwall.
Sitting on the harbourfront, the pub has been a favourite of local fishermen, artists and visitors alike for as long as anyone cares to remember and is well-known for its rugged charm and atmosphere.
He is also a director of MUSTARD Clothing.
