Former Scotland rugby captain Stuart Hogg has pleaded guilty to domestic violence charges against his estranged wife.

Hogg admitted shouting, swearing and behaving abusively towards his wife Gillian when he appeared at Selkirk Magistrates Court.

He also admitted stalking her on several occasions and sending shocking and distressing messages.

The court heard the former Hawick and Glasgow Warriors player, who won 100 caps for Scotland, sent more than 200 messages in a matter of hours. Sheriff Peter Patterson deferred sentencing until December 5 to allow for the results of background checks.

Hogg, who currently plays for French football club Montpellier, admitted one charge of repeatedly abusing his estranged wife.

His range of behaviour caused her to feel frightened or alarmed over a five-year period to August this year.

The court heard that Hogg, 32, frequently shouted and swore at his wife while they lived in Hawick and while he was playing for Exeter Chiefs.

On one occasion, this caused her to panic – and she eventually took advice from domestic violence services.

The allegation also involved Hogg monitoring his wife’s movements through the Find My Phone app after they split in 2023, sometimes sending her hundreds of text messages in a matter of hours.

Sentencing was deferred until December 5, when Hogg’s legal team will offer a full sentence reduction.

Sheriff Peter Patterson allowed him to remain on bail until that date, pending reports, including a restricted liberty assessment.

The defender retired from rugby union before last year’s World Cup, having played a century for the senior team and on three tours of the British and Irish Lions.

He remains one of Scotland’s greatest ever scorers and has been awarded an MBE in the 2024 New Year Honours List for his services to rugby union.

This summer he returned to action and signed a two-year contract with Montpellier.