Hogg is loving life after Jack's warm welcome

Scotland star Stuart Hogg tells Neale Harvey how West Country life is exceeding expectations

- Neale Harvey

Fleet-footed Exeter full-back Stuart Hogg says swapping Glasgow for rugby-daft Devon is one of the best decisions he has ever made as he targets a place on next year’s Lions tour.

A whirlwind six months has taken Hogg from the lows of Scotland’s miserable World Cup campaign to the high of captaining his country during the Six Nations, albeit a campaign that was tempered by errors against Ireland and England and fallout from the Finn Russell affair.

However, now firmly settled in Ottery St Mary just outside Exeter and with things falling into place for club and country, Hogg cuts a more contented figure as he plots his career path with silverware at Chiefs, adding to his 76 caps and a third crack at the Lions firmly on his radar.

Hogg told The Rugby Paper: “I’m loving it here. Coming to Devon is the best decision we’ve made as a family and it’s been refreshing to experience new things. In terms of rugby it’s the best thing I’ve ever done and it’s a club I’ve fallen in love with straight away. We’ve a great group of boys playing a lovely brand of rugby and the fanbase is incredible, so it’s a match made in heaven.

“I’m learning a lot on and off the field. I have 76 caps but I’m a big believer that you’re never the complete player – there’s always a lot to improve upon individually that will help the team.

“We have guys like Gareth Steenson, Phil Dollman and Ben Moon who’ve been here a long time and I’m happy to pick their brains. There’s a cracking set of coaches as well who have a big influence on the way we all play and learn.”