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Latest twist has emerged in the Stuart Hogg return-to-play saga

Retired Scotland skipper Stuart Hogg (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Another twist has emerged in the saga that is Stuart Hogg and his rugby retirement, this time linking him to a playing comeback in France just weeks after RugbyPass suggested that Newcastle were interested in the soon-to-be 32-year-old former Scotland full-back, something the Falcons denied was the case.

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It was last July when he brought forward his planned retirement by three months, claiming that he didn’t have it in him to play for his country at the Rugby World Cup due to injury having announced earlier in the year that he was quitting and wouldn’t be seeking a 2023/24 contract extension at Exeter.

Hogg soon re-emerged as a TV rugby pundit, linking up with TNT Sports, but he has been absent from the screen in recent times following some well-documented upheaval in his personal life.

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Stuart Hogg on how Social Media Abuse Triggered His Retirement! | RugbyPass Offload EP 73

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    Stuart Hogg on how Social Media Abuse Triggered His Retirement! | RugbyPass Offload EP 73

    It was May 17 when RugbyPass reported that Hogg, Scotland’s all-time record try-scorer and a 2019/20 double-winner with the Chiefs, ‘had been spotted in Newcastle’ where he spoke about a potential retirement-ending deal.

    The Falcons denied that any such meeting ever took place and that recruiting the former full-back was a total non-runner.

     

    It has now emerged that Hogg’s comeback could happen in France as a media report has linked him with Montpellier, the Top 14 strugglers who face a relegation/promotion play-off to guarantee their spot in next season’s top-flight.

    A Midi Olympique report read: “If Montpellier is not yet assured of its presence in the Top 14 next season, the club remains on the offensive on the market.

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    “According to our information, it could make one of the most striking and daring recruitments of the season after offering a contract to Scottish star Stuart Hogg.

    “The MHR is in advanced contact with Hogg, the Scottish star with 100 caps who has been retired from the field for a year.

    “The talented No15, voted best player of the Six Nations in 2016 and 2017, had decided to hang up his boots in the middle of the preparation for the World Cup last July, saying he was “exhausted, physically and emotionally”.

    “His post-rugby period has blackened the columns of a few tabloids across the Channel, between marital disputes and online harassment. With this page turned, the hypothetical return of Stuart Hogg to the pitch took over as a topical topic during the spring…

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    “The Montpellier challenge is about to change the game. The MHR directors sniffed out a market opportunity like few others when they were looking for a professional full-back to compensate for the long-term absence of Anthony Bouthier.

    “He was the victim of a ruptured cruciate ligament in a knee at the beginning of May. Stuart Hogg would sign as a medical joker with the 2022 France champion.”

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    N
    NB 1 hour ago
    Why Les Kiss and Stuart Lancaster can lead Australia to glory

    https://www.london.edu/think/how-claudio-ranieri-transformed-leicester-city


    He jts knew how to use that deep well of knowledge accumulate over many years of management. A true Moneyball story!

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    f
    fl 1 hour ago
    Why Les Kiss and Stuart Lancaster can lead Australia to glory

    “Two comparable achievements 15 years apart (at different clubs in different leagues) represent failure and not continued success for an elite level coach/manager? Not even a hint of consistency? Just gradual, inevitable decline? And all because he is in his sixth decade?”

    Why don’t you try reading what I wrote before you start inventing a load of other random things that I didn’t say. I said “Pep hasn’t gotten better with age”. He hasn’t. I don’t think he’s got much worse, and yeah, he’s been fairly consistent over his career and has had more success than almost any other coach. But he hasn’t gotten better.


    “You’ve missed that Mourinho’s early start in football was as a translator for Bobby Robson (ironically a much older manager at the time!).”

    I was actually aware of that. I didn’t mention it because it wasn’t relevant to the fact that Mourinho - aged 52 - had more experience than Arteta does at 43. It also isn’t ironic that Bobby Robson was a much older manager at the time - it actually confirms by point that a lot of the top football managers used to be older than they are today.


    “You suggested that Les Kiss would not be suited to an international coaching role because of his age profile…that seemed to relate to rugby”

    That did relate to rugby. Let me walk you through the thread…


    NB suggested that Les Kiss should become Australia head coach in 2027.

    I said: “Given the drop off so many top coaches seem to experience as they get older (e.g. Jones, Gatland) Kiss could be a riskier appointment than you’d think!”

    NB said: “Drawing a parallel with the NFL and NBA, plenty of coaches stay well into their 70’s”

    I said: “Not all sports are going the same way though” then gave the example of football.


    The example of football was introduced in order to make the point that the age profile of managers is not the same in every sport. If you had read the thread you were replying to you would know this!

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