Stuart Hogg pleaded guilty to domestic abuse (Image: Getty Images)
Rugby bosses turned a blind eye to Jilly O’Donnell’s heartfelt appeals for intervention, as former Scotland skipper Stuart Hogg inundated her with countless unsolicited messages. Disgraced Hogg, who has admitted to a protracted five-year mistreatment of his ex-wife, simultaneously pursued secret love interest Jilly, despite her clear lack of interest.
Her startling claims included Exeter Chiefs’ management brushing off her concerns. In a tell-all interview with the Mirror, Jilly, duped into believing he was estranged from wife Gillian, divulged: “As Stuart was successful on the pitch, people were prepared to let slide what he did off the field. I reached out to the club’s managing director because I was at a low point and I needed help. I contacted Natasha Pavis because she is female, hoping she would see my point. I was hoping they would speak to him and help. Instead, they told me their players’ personal lives were none of their concern.”
Once lauded as Scottish rugby’s poster boy donning the iconic number 15 shirt, Hogg, hailing from Hawick, faced exposure last week for domestic violence.
The erstwhile national team lead conceded to subjecting his now-estranged partner Gillian—mother to their four offspring—to prolonged abuse. Further allegations emerged that he had also relentlessly pestered past lover Jilly with communication over 17 months following the end of their three-year liaison.
Mum-of-three Jilly reached out to Exeter Chiefs for assistance after enduring harassment, but her plea was disregarded. Stuart Hogg allegedly escalated his abusive behaviour, bombarding Jilly with even more undesired calls and messages.
Stuart Hogg leaving Jedburgh Sheriff Court after being released on bail (Image: PA)
The student nurse from Newcastle disclosed: “They obviously spoke to him because I then got loads of calls and messages from him demanding an explanation.”
Tony Rowe’s email response indicated a reluctance to get involved: “Thank you for bringing your situation to my attention. It sounds like you have had a difficult time but I am afraid I am unable to get involved in any staff or players’ personal life. I do hope you get the help you need to recover from this experience.”
The saga began during the 2020 lockdown when 47 year old Jilly, hailing from Newcastle, initially connected with Hogg after he started engaging with her posts on Instagram. As a single mother to three grown children, she felt vulnerable but appreciated the attention from the much-younger rugby star.
In a revealing story to our sister paper the Daily Record, Jilly recounted her three-year liaison with Hogg—who had claimed he was separated from his wife. The tale unravelled when she saw him on television discussing his expecting spouse—their fourth child together.
Gillian Hogg and rugby player Stuart Hogg (Image: undefined)
Hogg, the accomplished Glasgow Warriors full-back, transferred to Exeter Chiefs located in Devon in 2019 on a contract running until 2023. Throughout his tenure at the club, Hogg made 69 appearances and commanded an impressive annual salary of £580,000.
Hogg and his wife, who tied the knot in 2016, made the move to Exeter that very year with their trio of youngsters. However, following Hogg’s retirement from professional rugby, they journeyed back to Hawick in April 2023.
Jilly has painted a rather bleak portrait of a man adept at manipulating his circle, often blaming his excessive drinking to excuse deplorable acts. The ex-Scotland full-back owned up this year to entering rehab to “reset” his life after a February arrest.
Jilly divulged: “His drinking was out of control. He was always the last man standing in the pub. After good games, they would celebrate. Partners would be there, they would leave and go home but he would still be there.
“The next day, he wouldn’t ever remember what he’d done the night before and would turn up to training to find out if he had been a laugh or an idiot. He messaged me once to say his marriage would definitely be over when he returned home drunk.
“When I found out his wife was pregnant, who he had told me he was separated from, he said ‘you know what I’m like when I’m drunk.’ He blames anxiety, his mental health. I’d tell him it was caused by his drinking. He is always the victim. He is never at fault, he will never accept his part. He would behave badly, then come on blaming himself at first.
“He’d call or message saying ‘I’m a terrible person.’ I’d start by saying ‘yes you are’ then somehow, I’d end up apologising to him telling him he was a brilliant person. I’d end up reassuring him.”
Hogg, who now lines up for French club Montpellier, was in the dock last week, confessing to a prolonged tirade of abuse directed at his estranged spouse, Gillian, which ranged from 2019 to 2024. The rugby ace owned up to “did shout and swear in an aggressive manner, track her movements (and) send her messages which were alarming and distressing in nature”.
Jilly O’Donnell pictured for an exclusive interview. She had a relationships with Stuart Hogg MBE (born 24 June 1992) a Scottish professional rugby union player. Hogg recently pled guilty to a domestic abuse charge concerning with wife Gillian. (Image: Tony Nicoletti/Daily Record)
Moreover, Hogg lambasted his partner for “not being fun” and bombarded her with over 200 text messages within mere hours, ignoring her requests for space. The court was privy to accounts of how Hogg’s indulgence in alcohol left his ex-wife terrified, pining for daylight when he would recover his sobriety.
The Hoggs are navigating the divorce process. At 32, the Hawick-born player faced additional allegations involving his former flame Jilly, spanning three years.
Nonetheless, a negotiation with the legal team meant that Jilly was stripped of her chance to vocalise her ordeals in court. Exeter Chiefs alongside Hogg declined to provide statements on the matter.