Hogg confirms Glasgow exit with Exeter likely landing spot for full-back

Stuart Hogg has made the decision that many in Scottish Rugby dreaded – although it’s not known for certain yet where the British Lions full-back will land when he leaves Scotland.

Hogg confirmed yesterday that he would be leaving Glasgow Warriors at the end of this season when his current three-year contract expires. He did not reveal his destination, but the smart money is on the former Gallagher Premiership champions Exeter Chiefs.

As a two-time Lion, twice Six Nations Player of the Year and pretty much the face of Scottish Rugby for the last five years, Murrayfield had put together a significant package in an attempt to keep Hogg at Scotstoun – he recently passed 100 starts for the club in nine seasons there – but they would never be able to match the monetary offers from France and England.

It was known that Hogg’s former international coach Vern Cotter was keen to bring him to Montpellier in the south of France, but reports from France and England have him preferring Sandy Park and the Chiefs.

In a statement released by the Warriors, Hogg, who won his 63rd cap for his country on Saturday against Fiji, said: “This is a decision that’s taken a great deal of thought as I’ve loved my nine seasons at Glasgow Warriors.

“I said I would decide my next step for family and rugby reasons and feel now is the right time to gain new rugby experiences and push myself in different situations where I will be challenged and hopefully improve further.

“I’m proud of what I have achieved with Glasgow Warriors and Scotland so far and would like to thank the club and Scottish Rugby for all their support.

“They have supported me when I had made my decision to move on. I know they did all they could and I’m grateful for their support.”

With a young family and considerable ties to his home town of Hawick as well as Glasgow, it was hoped that Hogg – still only 26 – might agree to stay in Scotland.

But a few injuries in the last two seasons and former team-mate Finn Russell now earning nearly €1 million a year at Racing in France may have convinced him it is time to maximise his earning potential when at his peak.

Hogg is committed to producing “something special” in his final few months for the Warriors but it is a crushing blow for the Glasgow fans, who have now lost two of their favourites in successive seasons in Russell and Hogg.

It may also mark the end of an era at the club, who have as many as 26 other players – as well as head coach Dave Rennie – finishing their current contracts at the end of this season.

However the removal of the superstar full-back from the wage bill will allow Warriors chief executive Nathan Bombrys greater scope for re-signings of current players reaching the end of their present deals, including prop Zander Fagerson, young half backs Adam Hastings and George Horne, veteran centre Alex Dunbar and wing Tommy Seymour.

Stuart Hogg, top, was a reputed target for Montpellier’s Vern Cotter, the former Scotland coach.