Interview: Stuart Hogg, Scotland rugby full-back

STUART Hogg is not easily flustered but Scotland’s new full-back admitted yesterday that discovering this week he is related to football legend George Best had knocked him back.

The 19-year-old was already spinning from making his debut for Scotland against Wales in Cardiff less than a fortnight ago and finding out at the start of the week that he was to make his first start in a Scotland jersey, against France this Sunday. And then Irish relatives informed his father of the link with Manchester United hero Best.

“It’s pretty amazing,” he said, sporting a wide grin. “A cousin of my dad’s in Hawick was in touch with Irish relatives and told them about me playing for Scotland, and there was a report in a paper across there.

“Then my dad got in touch with them and they told him that his great granny was a Best, and that we were related to George’s family. My dad was in tears hearing of the Irish links. It’s pretty distant, but it has been amazing to find that out.”

Hogg’s father John, himself a former Hawick and South of Scotland full-back, and referee, confirmed the link. He explained: “It turns out my great great granny was Harriett Best, and her brother Richard was George’s great grandfather.

“I didn’t know of my Irish relatives at all, but my cousin in Hawick did and so she was keen to tell them when Stuart made his Scotland debut.

“When I called up on Monday my cousin over there [Maureen Vance] said ‘and you’ll know where he gets his skill from?’ I said ‘I’m sure you’ll tell me’ and she said ‘George Best of course!’ I thought she was joking, but then she took me through the family link. Of course I knew my mother came from Portadown. She died just before Stuart was born, and my dad died when I was just 16, and I always wanted to go to Portadown one day and see where she grew up.

“It’s amazing that through Stuart’s playing for Scotland we’ve discovered a part of the family we didn’t know we had, and now I have a place to go and learn more about my mum’s side of the family.” Speaking to The Scotsman, Maureen Vance commented: “It’s been great for the family in Ireland to see Stuart do so well, and I’m a real believer that it’s all in the genes. My daughter Alison was an Ireland hockey internationalist, another cousin set a Commonwealth Games record in running and we all know about George, and there were other cousins good at their football.”

Hogg has always known that he qualified for Ireland too, but has never stopped to think about the potential to wear the emerald colours. His rise has taken the game by storm in Scotland, the teenager having only joined Glasgow on an apprentice ‘elite development’ contract in 2010 and agreed his first full-time pro deal in January, the Warriors having moved swiftly to avoid him joining another promising teen Mark Bennett in the French game.

He remains such a grounded character, however, that after spending last weekend back in Hawick he took his Glasgow training kit with him to Murrayfield on Sunday in case he was not selected for Scotland and had to return to his club. That was never going to happen after he came off the bench in the Millennium Stadium and helped to spearhead Scotland’s fine last quarter. In fact, he would have been credited with ending the long wait for a Scotland try had referee Romain Poite used the television match official to rule on a score, instead of instinctively, and wrongly, ruling it out, but he also then helped to set up the chance for Greig Laidlaw to score.

Hogg has received some good-natured ribbing from Hawick friends who have said he should have celebrated the try more clearly and tried to influence the referee, instead of rising from the ground and showing his frustration. “When I was diving over I heard the whistle and I knew it was a whistle for a scrum or whatever and not for the try,” he said. “The next time I could jump and go mental and make him go to the TMO maybe, but these things happen.

“He [Poite] spoke to me at the post-match function and apologised to me. I fully respect him for doing that but it was a wee bit too late as far as I’m concerned. I’ve had a bit of stick from boys back in Hawick. I’ve had a bit of stick for my boots [they are yellow] and the fact that I twirl my tongue when I run supposedly and it sticks out. I’ve had some stick from some lads who are absolutely useless at rugby though, so it doesn’t bother me.

“This has been a dream come true and I’m looking forward to this weekend.”

A popular, down-to-earth lad, Hogg enjoys a great following in Hawick, his brother Graham, a former Scotland sevens player, and a group of others sporting Scotland jerseys with the number 22 and Hogg on the back in Cardiff.

This week they are having to switch those for 15s, and one of the most avid supporters at Murrayfield on Sunday will be his ‘Winning Scotland’ mentor Jim Renwick. Hogg last week became the first teenager to play for Scotland since Gregor Townsend in 1993, but this weekend will become the first teenager to start in the navy blue since Renwick in 1972, which was also against France at Murrayfield.

“Jim’s a great man,” Hogg added. “He’s always keeping me composed and keeping my feet on the ground, telling me what to do before and after a game. He’s been amazing for me.

“I’ve seen a couple of his games on ‘ESPN Classic’. You must be getting old if you’re on that though,” he laughed. “Obviously, I’ve heard all the good things about Jim from my dad and I think Jim’s told me a few times he was pretty good as well!

“He just tells me to be basic in everything I do and enjoy myself, and I am enjoying myself right now.”

The Best genes have perhaps played their part too.