Ex-Scottish rugby captain Hogg released on bail ahead of domestic abuse trial

Former Scottish rugby captain Stuart Hogg has been released on bail, following his arrest for an alleged breach of his existing bail conditions ahead of a trial for a number of domestic abuse allegations.

The 32-year-old had been due to stand trial at Jedburgh Sheriff Court on Tuesday, accused of engaging in a course of conduct that caused his ex-wife Gillian Hogg “fear and alarm” over a seven-year period between 2017 and 2024.

However he was arrested after allegedly making contact with his ex, and has been accused of a further stalking offence, and two charges of breaching his bail conditions.

The new charges allege that on August 23rd he repeatedly telephoned and messaged his ex-wife, and that he breached bail conditions on August 12th by contacting her via video call, and then on August 17th by parking his car in a way that prevented her from driving away and speaking to her.

Hogg denies all three of the new allegations, and will face trial for these and the existing charges against him in November.

During the hearing at Jedburgh Sheriff Court, advocate depute Drew Long called for Hogg to be remanded in custody ahead of the trial, saying the rugby star was accused of breaching his bail conditions despite “being placed under an undertaking” not to do so.

Hogg’s representative Mat Patrick told the court his client maintained his innocence in relation to each of the three charges.

He added that the additional allegations contained no “violence or even threat of violence, and I think it’s worth mentioning that the complainer in one of her statements explicitly states that”.

He said: “Whatever happened in this case seems to have arisen because Mr Hogg is allowed contact with his children, and there is no prohibition on him