STUART Hogg has insisted that the prospect of a big-money offer from abroad was never going to lure him away from Glasgow Warriors at this stage of his career.
The Scotland and Lions star signed a new two-year deal this week to add to the season he had left on his existing agreement, meaning he is under contract until 2019. Although he is the most highly paid player in Scottish rugby, Hogg could have earned an even more lucrative deal had he agreed to move to France, but explained that, at 24, he believes he has time on his side.
“If I was 29, 30, I’d be looking for a pay day - I’m not going to lie,” the full-back said yesterday after being named in the Warriors team to play Leicester tonight in the opening match of this season’s European Champions Cup. “I’m not in that situation.
“I’m enjoying my rugby here at Glasgow. It’s an exciting time to be part of the club and I’m delighted to stay for another two years.
“We’ve been competing for trophies for the last six years I’ve been at the club. The decision was made easy. I’m very settled at Glasgow. Why leave?
“There were offers coming in from elsewhere. I’m well managed here and going into games fresh for both Glasgow and Scotland. I’m only 24 and have a lot of rugby ahead of me, so it’s important I’m well managed.”
Two other influential people in Hogg’s decision to stay with the Warriors were his wife, Gillian, and the future Glasgow coach Dave Rennie, who will move from New Zealand next summer to succeed Gregor Townsend when the latter becomes Scotland coach. “I had to speak to the boss, Gillian, to see what her thoughts were,” Hogg continued. “She was happy to stay in Glasgow.
“She has a good group of friends and her parents are only a couple of hours down the road as well. It would be tough to take her away elsewhere. We have a kid, another on the way, and to take them away from the grandparents at that age might have been tricky. We’re delighted to be staying.
“Dave came over a few weeks ago and the leaders’ group met up with him to see what his plans were for his time here. It’s exciting times to be part of the club, but there’s a lot of rugby before he comes in and we want to give Gregor a good send-off.”
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