Hogg can't wait to get started
By Mark Stevens
17/10/19
Exeter supporters may not have to wait too long to get their first glimpse of summer signing Stuart Hogg featuring in Chiefs colours.
Scotland’s early exit from the Rugby World Cup over in Japan means Hogg has already jetted back to the UK from the Far East and it will not be long before he checks into daily life at Sandy Park with his new club.
Director of Rugby, Rob Baxter, says the 27-year-old back is expected in at Sandy Park on Friday, where he will undergo a post-tournament screening by the club’s medical staff. Then, once happy, the former Glasgow Warriors ace will engage in his first activities as a Chiefs player.
“You never plan on anyone getting knocked out of the World Cup early, but that’s the case with Stuart and with Scotland,” said Baxter. “When you look at the pool, it was a pool in which Scotland will have been disappointed not to have got out of. That said, you can’t take anything away from Japan and what they’ve achieved.
“I though their game with Scotland was incredible. I’ve actually watched it twice, initially I watched it live, then I’ve watched it again to see how Stuart was performing. Watching it back it was really enjoyable to see the ferocity of the game, because it was a big game for both sides. As I said, you have to be impressed with what Japan did.”
But whilst the host nation advanced alongside Ireland into the quarter-finals, Scotland and Hogg were instead having to pack their bags and head home.
“Stuart, to be fair to him, dropped me a message not long after the final whistle,” explained Baxter. “Obviously, he was gutted, but what is actually really nice is that as part of his way of getting over the disappointment of it all, he actually wants to get back involved with rugby and back amongst the boys. I’m sure he will cop a bit of banter for a few weeks, because that is how works, but he genuinely wants to get back and he wants to get involved here.
“He’s moving down with his family on Thursday, he’s coming into the club on Friday, where we will have a good look at him. We’ll start the screen process there and then to see where he is, both mentally and physically, and we will go from there. Knowing the guy and his ambitious he is to get involved and be part of what we do here, it wouldn’t surprise me all all if he doesn’t declare himself fit and raring to go for next week.”
Hogg’s arrival will certainly be welcomed by the Chiefs, whose squad options this week have been bolstered with the return to training of some notable names. Elvis Taione, Stu Townsend, Tom Price, Don Armand and Alex Cuthbert are all back on the pitch following injuries and Baxter says having those players back is helping to thicken out his options at just the right time.
“We’ve got guys like Cuthy and Stu Townsend both back in full training, Don is very close, Elvis is another back in full training, which is fantastic,” added Baxter. “He’s worked incredibly hard to get back from his knee injury and that is starting to add that little bit of thickness to the squad.
“At the same time, it’s making training a bit ‘harum scarum’ because you’ve got two good teams banging in to one another. As a coach, though, that’s what you want. You want that competition and drive amongst the whole squad. For all of us, I think we’re all ready to get going and start the Premiership season.
“I’m excited about the new season and what it will bring. It’ something I say a lot because we shouldn’t take it for granted. Being where we are is precious to us, and the minute we take it for granted is the minute we will get it wrong. These games don’t just come around without you working very hard for it.
“Our supporters have been fantastic and we want to be playing in front of sell-out crowds and having the people really get behind us. That only happens, however, if they see some emotion on the field and see what the team are doing, so that’s what we have to make sure we keep delivering.”