Stuart Hogg suffers fresh blow ahead of Top 14 comeback – report
Stuart Hogg is set to miss the start of the Top 14 season.
Former Scotland and Exeter Chiefs full-back Stuart Hogg will miss the start of the Top 14 season due to injury, according to a report from L’Equipe.
The 32-year-old walked away from the game prior to the World Cup last year, but he later made a U-turn on his retirement decision and signed with the French club this summer.
Stuart Hogg return derailed by injury
According to the report in L’Equipe, Hogg has torn his calf and is sidelined for the next six weeks. This recovery time likely rules him out of Montpellier’s opening Top 14 game with Lyon on the September 7.
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Hogg joined the club as a medical joker for Anthony Bouthier, who suffered a ruptured ACL and will be out until early 2025; but the Scot will now also spend a period on the treatment table.
Montpellier only began their pre-season training on July 17 ahead of the start of the Top 14 season, where the club hopes to avoid another relegation dog-fight.
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The former Scotland, Glasgow Warriors and Exeter Chiefs back announced in early 2023 he would hang his boots up after the World Cup. However, following his ‘slowing up’ during training he opted to fast-track the end of his career and stepped back in July last year.
From there, he joined the TNT Sports punditry team, but personal issues have marred his career since.
Hogg was arrested in February for stalking, and in July pled guilty to a domestic abuse charge following messages to his ex-wife.
He was released on bail not long after to sign with Montpellier, and was unveiled alongside ex-Saracens icon Billy Vunipola and former Exeter Chiefs teammate Nika Abuladze.
During his career, Hogg won one PRO12 title with Glasgow and one Premiership and one Champions Cup with Exeter. The Scot was also named Six Nations Player of the Tournament in 2016 and 2017, and was awarded an MBE in the 2024 New Years Honours list.
