Stuart Hogg very close to the MHR: a year after his retirement and extra-sporting setbacks, the Scottish fullback could put on his crampons again

Stuart Hogg could be back in action with Montpellier next summer. MAXPPP – Andrew Milligan

Former Scotland star full-back Stuart Hogg could come out of retirement and sign with Montpellier as a medical joker.

The MHR continues to surprise a little more each week. As revealed by Midi Olympique, Stuart Hoggcould come out of retirement to take on a new challenge with Montpellier. Information that we are able to confirm.

With Anthony Bouthier's serious injury, the Hérault club was looking for a medical joker. The arrival of the former XV du Chardon full-back (31 years old, 100 caps), best player in the 6 Nations Tournament in 2016 and 2017 and one of the best in his time (three Lions tours, two World Cups), is a bet that the Montpellier management has taken on and that it is about to succeed.

The former Glasgow Warriors and Exeter Chiefs player announced, to everyone's surprise, his retirement from sport in July 2023, a few weeks before the World Cup in France . He expressed fatigue and general weariness of professional rugby.

Arrested by the police in March

Last March, he was talked about in the "miscellaneous" section. Stuart Hogg was arrested by police outside his ex-wife's home. British authorities accused him of engaging in threatening and abusive behavior. He will be in court in July for abuse and domestic harassment.

In the process, he announced that he was undergoing medical and psychological treatment due to harassment online and on social networks.

"I was lost, I needed help, guides, time away from the spotlight to think. I was so concerned about what people thought of me and how I would survive the day. I mulled everything over in my head and it wasn't healthy, he wrote in a long message on Instagram at the end of April.  Spending time in a rehabilitation center allowed me to clear my head and learn about myself. ;wasn't easy, but it was the right thing to do."

The MHR would take a risk if the file were to materialize. Hogg hasn't played for a year and his lifestyle gives no guarantees. In the event of arrival as Bouthier's medical joker, he will be in competition with New Zealander Joshua Moorby, supposed to arrive this summer from the Hurricanes, and Julien Tisseron.