Hampshire's U-turn on Scott Kuggeleijn Signing After Fan Backlash
Hampshire’s move to bring in former Black Caps seamer Scott Kuggeleijn has lasted barely long enough to make the team sheet.
The county confirmed an abrupt reversal on the eve of his planned debut, saying the 34-year-old will not play for the club after “feedback from staff and supporters” over his recruitment.
Kuggeleijn had been lined up to feature against Warwickshire in the County Championship, with the match starting last night NZT. Hampshire had quietly announced on their website that he would bolster their attack for the final four games of the season, but notably kept the news off their social media channels.
The silence did not last. News of the signing spread, criticism followed, and by the time play was about to begin, the county had pulled the plug.
“Having reflected and listened to feedback from staff and supporters Hampshire Cricket can confirm that Scott Kuggeleijn will not represent the club,” read a brief statement. “We value the passion of our fanbase and thank everyone who took the time to share their views.”
It was a sharp, public reminder that the fast-medium bowler’s name has never been detached from the court case that once dominated his career.
In 2016, Kuggeleijn pleaded not guilty in the Hamilton District Court to the sexual violation by rape of a 21-year-old woman. The jury could not reach a verdict. A retrial followed a year later; he was found not guilty.
Legally, the matter ended there. Reputationally, it never has.
Black Caps selection and protests
New Zealand selectors brought Kuggeleijn back into the international fold a few months after his retrial, handing him an ODI debut against Ireland in Dublin. That decision sparked debate at home, but the real flashpoint arrived in 2019, when he was picked for home T20 and one-day series.
Protests trailed him to the grounds.
At Wellington’s stadium, a woman who took a sign bearing an anti-rape slogan to a match he was playing in said she was told by security to surrender the banner or leave. As security staff spoke with her group, people in the surrounding seats began chanting “no means no”.
New Zealand Cricket later issued an apology for the way the situation was handled.
“The message certainly wasn’t offensive, so it was a mistake to take that course of action,” then public affairs manager Richard Boock said. He also outlined that NZ Cricket had recently introduced an annual education module for professional players, covering sexual harassment, consent, and respect for women.
On the field, Kuggeleijn’s New Zealand career has been sporadic but significant. He has played three Tests, two ODIs and 18 T20 internationals, most recently appearing against Australia in Christchurch in March 2024.
Hampshire, though, have decided his story will not continue in their colours. In an era when counties are scrutinised as much for their choices off the field as on it, the club has made its stance clear—and done so before Kuggeleijn could bowl a single ball for them.
