Chiefs life suits Hogg just right

By Mark Stevens
09/10/22

Exeter Chiefs full-back Stuart Hogg has admitted he contemplated ‘walking away from rugby’ due to abuse he was receiving from a section of fans.

In a candid interview with BT Sport, broadcast ahead of last Friday’s Gallagher Premiership victory over Bristol Bears, the Scotland and British & Irish Lions spoke about the struggles he has endured in recent times.

"I come across as a happy, confident person, but deep down I've struggled and I've hated it," Hogg told BT Sport.

"And I've actually been very, very close at times to thinking 'why am I putting myself through all this stress and strains, my body's feeling absolutely horrendous and I'm getting dogs abuse at the weekend?'.

"There was a time a couple of years ago I thought 'do you know what, why am I playing rugby?' because I'm constantly coming home in a foul mood with my wife and kids all because some clown has said something about me.

"I thought: 'is it easier if I just walk away from the game and never have that again? Or do I suck it up and think, right no matter what I do, you're always going to get heat'."

Thankfully, the 30-year-old has not only stuck to rugby, but re-affirmed how much life at the Chiefs and in Devon with his family has helped him combat the issues raised.

"We spend a lot of time on the beach," he said. "I'm in the sea most days and we spend a lot of time in the countryside with the horses."

Hogg says he was "in dreamland" when Exeter won the Premiership and European Champions Cup double in 2020 and believes the Chiefs have reset their goals for another good season after last term's seventh-place finish.

"The time I've had here, I've learned so much about myself as a player, as a person, about my body that I'm probably in my best physical place I can be, the best mental place I can be," he added.