Scottish trio can handle the heat

Scotland captain Stuart Hogg is loving being part of an ex-pat gang at Exeter Chiefs – even if they are “taking a bit of heat” from their English team-mates.

Hogg is a key performer for the Premiership leaders, who are preparing for a European Champions Cup semi-final against French outfit Toulouse on Saturday – along with Scotland teammates Jonny Gray, Sam Hidalgo-Clyne and Sam Skinner.

But the 28-year-old has confessed the Scots are having to stick up for themselves in the face of some light-hearted ribbing from their English pals.

Hogg, pictured, said: “First of all, it was the Northern Irish boys that we were signing and then it was the Aussies, and now it’s the Scots. So, we’re taking a bit of heat, but we’ve got each others’ backs.”