FORMER Scotland rugby captain Stuart Hogg was smuggled out of court in the back seat of his parents' car after denying abusing and stalking his estranged wife.
The 31-year-old appeared in the dock for a brief hearing at Jedburgh Sheriff Court earlier today after he was arrested over the alleged incidents in February.
He is also charged under section one of the Domestic Abuse Scotland Act which alleges he engaged in a course of behaviour which was “abusive” to his wife Gillian - the mother of his four children and who he is separated from.
Hogg also denied a third charge of failing to comply with an undertaking.
He will stand trial later this year.
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He was allowed to enter the side door of the court building - used by lawyers and court officials - to avoid cameras and members of the public. He was then given access to the witness room to sit and wait on his case calling.
During the hearing, prosecutor Drew Long asked the court to set a trial date and requested special bail conditions that Hogg doesn’t approach his estranged wife.
After the hearing, he left in the back of a car that was driven out of the private car park but he was lying down in the back seat covered by a jacket.
Hogg retired from rugby union prior to last year's World Cup having amassed a century of senior caps and been involved in three British and Irish Lions tours.
He is Scotland's all-time leading try scorer and won national and European titles with both Glasgow Warriors and Exeter Chiefs.
Hogg was awarded an MBE in the 2024 New Year Honours List for services to rugby union.
He is one of Scotland’s most celebrated rugby stars having earned 100 caps and took the national team's all-time leading try scoring record against Japan in November 2021.
As well as playing pro in Glasgow and Exeter he also had an amateur career spanning Ayr, Stirling County and Hawick.
Since hanging up his boots on the eve of last year's World Cup, Hogg has been working as a rugby pundit and analyst for broadcasters TNT Sport.
Elsewhere Stuart Hogg has been enjoying a sun-kissed holiday in Turkey with partner Leonna Mayor.
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