Rugby said goodbye to a true Scotland legend last week as Stuart Hogg announced his retirement from the sport at the age of 31.
Eleven years on from his international debut, the full-back hung up his boots after initially planning to stop playing following the conclusion of the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France.
With 100 caps to his name, Hogg has given Scotland fans countless memories to treasure for years to come.
So, as we say goodbye to a Guinness Six Nations great, let’s look back at the full-back’s finest moments.
Scoring his first Scotland try in 2012
A fresh-faced Hogg made his Scotland debut during the 2012 Six Nations at the age of just 19, coming off the bench for injured winger Max Evans in a 27-13 defeat against Wales.
Despite being on the losing side, he did enough to earn a spot in Andy Robinson’s starting XV for the Round 3 clash against France, and the full-back certainly did not disappoint.
Hogg‘s moment came when he scored the first of a record 27 tries for Scotland on his second Six Nations appearance and his first international start to give his side an early lead against Les Bleus.
The full-back crossed in the corner after some clever play from Greig Laidlaw.
He shone as Scotland showed off their exploits in the back line, taking advantage of an open game and playing some incredible running rugby.
However, despite Hogg‘s heroics, the hosts ultimately fell to a 23-17 defeat.
A sensational score against Ireland to become Scotland’s first Player of the Championship
Hogg was the standout star of the 2016 edition of Rugby’s Greatest Championship, helping his side to a fourth-place finish before becoming Scotland’s first-ever Player of the Championship.
He went on to become just the second player to win the prize on more than one occasion, joining Ireland great Brian O’Driscoll when he was recognised again in 2017 – Antoine Dupont has since achieved this, with he and O’Driscoll winning the award three times.
However, Hogg’s 2016 campaign was something special.
The defining moment of the full-back’s Championship came when he crossed the whitewash from 55m out in the Round 5 35-25 defeat against Ireland at Aviva Stadium.
It will go down as one of his greatest-ever international tries, and though he was on the losing side that day, Hogg would not have to wait long for revenge.
Scoring twice against Ireland in 2017
A year later, the full-back made an even bigger impact against Ireland at BT Murrayfield.
He scored a delightful double as Scotland recorded a memorable 27-22 triumph over Joe Schmidt’s side in Round 1.
Hogg crossed in the corner to score the opening try of the game, but his defining moment of the Championship came when he produced a genius dummy to create a gap and glide over the try line for his second.
It was a moment of magic that only a player of Hogg‘s quality could produce on such a grand stage.
Captaining Scotland to a first win at Twickenham since 1983 in 2021
With the 2020 Six Nations Championship on the horizon, Hogg was named Scotland captain.
Sadly, what should have been a memorable Championship was overshadowed by the covid-19 pandemic, with the last two rounds not being completed until October 2020.
However, in 2021 the full-back had his moment in the sun as he led his side to a first win at Twickenham since 1983.
Duhan van der Merwe scored as Gregor Townsend’s side beat their old rivals 11-6 to get their Championship off to the best possible start.
Hogg played the full 80 minutes, notably one booming clearing kick flipping field position for the Scots in the second half.
The result showed just how far Scotland had come in the nine years since his debut.
Helping Scotland to another memorable win against England
Injuries cast a shadow over Hogg‘s final Guinness Six Nations appearances, but there was still one moment left for him to savour.
An HIA forced him off early in his final win against Wales, and he was also subbed in the Round 4 clash with Ireland due to injury.
However, he was a key part of Scotland’s 29-23 Calcutta Cup win at Twickenham in Round 1, a result that will live long in the memory of every Scotland fan that watched.
The victory was a just reward for Hogg‘s 11 years of service to his country, and it cemented his status as a Guinness Six Nations icon.
