Season-ending injury slams brakes on Stuart Hogg’s new lease of life in France
Stuart Hogg on Montpellier duty at Toulouse last January
Stuart Hogg’s first season in the French Top 14 has ended early after an injury sustained last Saturday resulted in an operation on Tuesday.
Under contract at Montpellier until 2027 after coming out of retirement last summer, the former Scotland full-back had been enjoying a new lease of life as his team’s out-half.
Last Saturday’s home win over Perpignan was his 11th league start at number 10, lifting Montpellier to ninth place on the table and leaving them just a point off Clermont in the sixth and final play-off spot.
However, the 19-13 victory came at a heavy cost for Hogg as a second-half injury will see him miss Montpellier’s four remaining regular-season Top 14 matches as well as the play-offs if the club progresses that far.
The second half was 14 minutes old at the GGL Stadium when Hogg was tackled after making a catch and the impact from Perpignan winger Tavite Veredamu resulted in a campaign-ending ruptured Achilles tendon.
Hogg will be sidelined for between six and nine months
Set to turn 33 next June, Hogg will now be sidelined for between six and nine months. He was pictured on the Montpellier club website sitting up in his hospital bed following his surgery.
“Stuart suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon during the second half of the MHR vs USAP match,” read the injury update.
“He underwent successful surgery on Tuesday. We wish him a speedy recovery!”