Shamed rugby star Stuart Hogg knew “he didn’t deserve his MBE” after carrying out a five year campaign of domestic abuse against his wife, sources have claimed.
The former Scotland captain is facing calls to be stripped of his MBE which he was awarded in the 2024 New Year Honours List for services to rugby.
Last night SNP Commons chief Stephen Flynn said officials were “firmly on the case” of removing the ex-Scotland captain’s gong and called on the Cabinet Office’s honours bosses to reach a decision “imminently.”
It comes after the former British Lions full back, who is in the process of a divorce, was given a one-year community payback order in January after admitting a domestic abuse charge against estranged wife Gillian.
At Selkirk Sheriff Court in November, Hogg, 32, who now plays for Montpellier in France, admitted shouting, swearing and acting in an abusive manner towards her.
However sources close to the rugby player have claimed Hogg “knew he didn’t deserve” the honour after carrying out the campaign abuse against his estranged wife.
A source close to Hogg said: “You’ll never see anything about the MBE on Stuart’s website or any mention of the honour.
“He doesn’t use it as his title.
“As far as I’m aware he never collected it, it’s still there. He doesn’t even have it.
“I think he knew because of everything with Gillian, that he didn’t deserve it.”
Hogg, of Hawick, Roxburghshire, last month dodged jail and was given a community payback order with supervision.
He was previously given a five-year non-harassment order and fined £600 after breaching bail conditions.
Calls for Hogg to lose the honour were also backed last month by John Swinney.
The First Minister said: “That’s a reasonable and understandable call Stephen Flynn made.”
In November we revealed how the ex-girlfriend of Hogg said he led a double life for three years by pretending to be happily married while he was secretly seeing her.
Jilly O’Donnell said she found out he was still with his wife Gillian when the ex-Scotland international captain gave a TV interview to reveal they were expecting their fourth child.
Hogg was outed as a controlling and manipulative abuser after he pled guilty to a single charge of domestic abuse against his now estranged wife Gillian in November.
If the case had gone to trial, the ex-British and Irish Lions star would also have faced a charge of bombarding Jilly, 47, with hundreds of messages and a barrage of calls over 17 months despite her begging him to stop.
Jilly has decided to speak out about the torment she suffered at the hands of Hogg in the belief that other women have fallen victim to him.
Speaking previously, Jilly, a student nurse from Newcastle, said: “His actions and behaviour have caused so much hurt and anger to so many women.
“He knows that but somehow, he will still end up being the victim.”
Jilly met Hogg, a full-back with Premiership side Exeter at the time, when he started liking her pictures on Instagram in 2020.
Hogg had told Jilly he was only living in Exeter with his wife for the sake of their children – but they were no longer together.
The pair ended contact when Hogg began dating Mayor – once dubbed the “world’s sexiest jockey” – who is pregnant with his fifth child.
Hogg and TV racing pundit Leonna Mayor, 34, had announced they were dating on Instagram in November 2023 while at a spa in Staffordshire days after Gillian, 37, had given birth to their daughter.
Jilly spoke out about Hogg in the belief that others have fallen victim to him.
The Sunday Mail contacted representatives for Hogg.
The Cabinet Office said it was unable to comment.
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