Stuart Hogg being stripped of his MBE would be “reasonable and understandable”, John Swinney has said after the disgraced former Scotland rugby captain was convicted of domestic abuse.
The First Minister said he was personally “incredibly disappointed” that someone regarded as a national sporting hero had committed such a crime.
But Mr Swinney refused to be drawn on widespread criticism that Hogg’s sentence was too lenient after he was handed a one-year community payback order and spared a fine.
Gillian Hogg says she is ‘looking forward to moving on with her life’ following the rugby player’s conviction for domestic abuse – Jane Barlow/PA
Gillian Hogg, the rugby player’s estranged wife, said the sentence handed down by Sheriff Peter Paterson felt like “absolutely no punishment”.
She told the Scottish Sun: “My first thought was, is that it? It’s not enough. No sentence will ever be enough for all of the abuse, heartache and pain he put me through for years. It feels like that hasn’t been acknowledged.”
Sheriff Paterson was further criticised after he said Hogg could be excused from attending a “review” of the sentence on March 25 as he “there is no point in interrupting his career.” Mrs Hogg said: “His career should never have been brought up.”
John Swinney has agreed with calls to strip Hogg of his MBE, describing the conviction as ‘incredibly disappointing’ – Jane Barlow/PA
Hogg had pleaded guilty to a single charge of domestic abuse between 2019 and 2024 at locations including Hawick, the Scottish Borders and Bearsden.
He admitted shouting and swearing at his wife, tracking her movements and sending her messages which were alarming and distressing in nature.
Hogg previously breached bail conditions by repeatedly contacting her in June, when one night she received 28 texts from him.
He was described in court as being “angry” and “controlling” during the relationship, leaving his victim scared by his behaviour when he had been drinking. She reported “wishing for it to be morning as quickly as possible so that he would sober up and things would stop”.
The former Glasgow Warriors full-back amassed a century of senior caps for his country. He was also involved in three British and Irish Lions tours and was awarded an MBE in the 2024 New Year honours list for services to rugby union. He came out of retirement last summer to sign a two-year contract with Montpellier.
Once described as a national sporting hero, Hogg was handed a one-year community payback order for domestic abuse – SYLVAIN THOMAS/AFP
Mr Swinney said Hogg’s conviction was “very disappointing, incredibly disappointing” and he agreed with a call by Stephen Flynn, the SNP’s Westminster leader, that Hogg should be stripped of his MBE.
The First Minister said: “I think that’s a reasonable and understandable call that Stephen Flynn has made. I think it’s absolutely reprehensible for men to behave badly in any circumstance of life and one example of that will be domestic abuse.”
Asked whether Hogg’s sentence was too lenient, Mr Swinney said: “Please don’t take it from me that I’m dismissing your concerns – I just don’t think it’s really appropriate for the First Minister to comment about sentencing decisions.”
Mrs Hogg, 38, a mother-of-four, told the Scottish Sun: “I’m very happy with the fact that I never need to deal with him, have nothing to do with him for five years. That is a massive relief and I’m just looking forward to moving on in my own life.”