Shamed rugby star Stuart Hogg was revealed to have pleaded with his secret ex-partner to meet him just hours before announcing his new relationship on social media. Hogg, who recently received a one-year community payback order after admitting to a domestic abuse charge against his estranged wife, was reported to have been wanting to meet his ex-girlfriend, Jilly O’Donnell, before going public with his new romance. The former Scotland captain confessed to behaving abusively towards his wife and is currently undergoing divorce proceedings.
Hogg, 32, and TV racing pundit Leonna Mayor, 34, shared on Instagram in November 2023 that they were dating while at a spa in Staffordshire shortly after the birth of Hogg’s daughter with his wife. Jilly O’Donnell, who had been in a secret relationship with Hogg for three years, revealed that he had expressed a desire to meet her just before the public announcement with Mayor. Jilly disclosed that Hogg had mentioned being in Exeter and wanting to meet up, but the meeting did not materialise.
The saga unfolded with Jilly recounting how she first connected with Hogg when he began liking her Instagram posts in 2020. Hogg had allegedly informed Jilly that he was only living with his wife for their children’s sake, and they had separated. Their relationship came to an end when Hogg started dating Mayor, who is now expecting their fifth child. Jilly confronted Hogg after finding out about his new relationship, expressing shock and disdain for his actions.
Last week, Hogg, who now plays for French club Montpellier, was handed a community payback order with supervision following his admission of guilt. Jilly O’Donnell decided to speak out about her experiences with Hogg in hopes of shedding light on his behaviour and preventing others from falling victim to him. Requests for comments from Hogg and Leonna Mayor have not been responded to at this time.
The news of Stuart Hogg’s turbulent personal life highlights the complexities of relationships in the public eye and the repercussions of domestic abuse allegations. It serves as a reminder of the importance of accountability and transparency in all relationships, whether private or public.