The SNP leader stopped short of criticising the sentence after the 32-year-old avoided jail and was spared a fine.
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Hogg’s estranged wife Gillian has said the 12 months’ community supervision handed down by Sheriff Peter Paterson felt like “absolutely no punishment.”
She told the Scottish Sun: “My first thought was, is that it? It’s not enough.
“No sentence will ever be enough for all of the abuse, heartache and pain he put me through for years. It feels like that hasn’t been acknowledged.”
Sheriff Paterson was further criticsed after he said Hogg could be excused from attending a “review” of the sentence on March 25 as he “there is no point in interrupting his career.”
Gillian told the paper: “His career should never have been brought up.”
(Image: SNS)
Hogg, who now plays rugby in France for Montpellier, pleaded guilty to one charge of domestic abuse in November for offences that took place between April 2019 and August 2024 at various locations including Hawick and Glasgow.
He has also been prevented from contacting his ex-wife, Gillian, with a five-year non-harassment order imposed.
The ex-Glasgow Warriors and Exeter Chiefs full back would regularly shout and swear at Gillian in their family home, accusing her of not being ‘fun’ if she didn’t want to go drinking.
He was described in court as ‘angry’ and ‘controlling’ during the relationship.
Hogg also tracked Gillian’s movements by using an app on her phone and would jealously quiz her on who she was socialising with.
On one occasion he sent over 200 texts to her in just a few hours.
Hogg has also previously been sentenced for breaching bail conditions not to approach or contact his ex-partner while awaiting trial and was fined £600.
He is one of Scotland’s all-time leading try scorers and was awarded an MBE in 2024.
Asked if he agreed with the call by SNP Wesminster leader Stephen Flynn’s call for Hogg to lose his honour, the First Minister said: “I think that’s a reasonable and understandable call that Stephen Flynn has made.”
Mr Swinney added: “I think it’s absolutely reprehensible for men to behave badly in any circumstance of life, and and one example of that will be domestic abuse, and I’ve made it clear that one of the points that I think is incumbent on me as a male First Minister, looking at some of the issues that are faced by women in our society, is to give leadership that men should behave better in our society.
“And that’s across all different aspects of life, but domestic abuse is a particularly strong example of that.”
Asked how disappointed he was to see someone who had been a role model for young men in Scotland to be ound guilty of domestic violence, the First Minister replied: ”Very disappointing. Incredibly disappointed.”