Scotland With A Job On Their Hands To See Hogg Off On A High
Few saw Stuart Hogg’s retirement announcement coming, as the Scotland full-back confirmed he will be retiring after the 2023 World Cup in France.
With a group that includes reigning world champions South Africa and Six Nations Grand Slam winners Ireland, Scotland will have to produce something special to give Hogg the farewell this icon of Scottish rugby deserves.
Hogg Determined To Finish On A High
As the dust was settling on Scotland’s positive Six Nations campaign, in which Gregor Townsend‘s side finished in third, Hogg dropped the bombshell that he would be retiring after the World Cup on French soil. The Scots have been improving in recent years and are 25/1 in the betting on sports to win the World Cup across the Channel later this year. Moving up to fifth place in the world rankings just shows how far Scotland has come under Townsend and Hogg has had a big role in that progress.
Passing on the captaincy duties to Jamie Ritchie in the Scotland camp last year, Hogg has been able to focus on his role at full-back and remains the first choice in that position despite growing competition from Blair Kinghorn. Set to turn 31 this summer, some would suggest Hogg still has plenty more to offer at both club and international level. Nobody knows his body better than the man himself and after a number of injuries over the years, Hogg has planned to bow out while he is still near the peak of his powers and look to new challenges beyond rugby.
Scotland May Cause An Upset
An exit in the group stage of the World Cup would be a disappointing end for Hogg, who for many is Scotland’s greatest player in the professional era. However, reaching the quarter-finals will be easier said than done, with the Springboks and the Irish also competing in Pool B. Scotland crashed out of the last World Cup in Japan in the group stages and will be desperate to make the knockouts this time around.
Scotland has shown on their day they are capable of beating any side and their efforts in this year’s Six Nations will give them hope. The Scots made an impressive start with back-to-back wins over England and Wales, before being undone by the top two teams in the world rankings in France and Ireland.
Hogg missed out on the final game due to an ankle injury, in a victory over Italy, meaning his outing at Murrayfield against Ireland was his last appearance in the Six Nations. Earning his 100th cap that day in Edinburgh was a remarkable achievement for a player who has featured on the last three British & Irish Lions tours of Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
Hogg will be sorely missed when he does hang up his boots but Hogg and his teammates will be doing all they can to make sure it’s a happy ending for this son of Hawick.
