Hampshire Cancels 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, who had quietly added the 34-year-old to their squad for the final four matches of the County Championship season, pulled the plug just hours before he was due to debut against Warwickshire, saying they had listened to strong feedback from within the club and among supporters.
Kuggeleijn had been named to play at the Ageas Bowl in the match starting last night NZT. His signing appeared on Hampshire’s website, but tellingly never made it to the club’s social media channels. The silence did not prevent a reaction. Criticism built online, centred not on his bowling but on his past.
In 2016, Kuggeleijn stood trial in Hamilton charged with the sexual violation by rape of a 21-year-old woman. He pleaded not guilty. A jury failed to reach a verdict, and a retrial followed a year later, at which he was found not guilty.
The court outcome did not end the debate around his presence in elite cricket. When New Zealand selected him for the Black Caps in a one-day international against Ireland in Dublin soon after the retrial, the decision drew scrutiny. His subsequent inclusion for home T20 and one-day matches in 2019 sparked visible protests.
At Wellington’s cricket stadium during one of those matches, a woman who brought a banner bearing an anti-rape slogan said she was told by security to surrender the sign or leave. As security staff engaged with her group, spectators nearby began chanting “no means no”. New Zealand Cricket later apologised.
“The message certainly wasn't offensive, so it was a mistake to take that course of action,” Richard Boock, NZ Cricket’s public affairs manager at the time, admitted. He also pointed to the governing body’s introduction of annual training for professional players on sexual harassment, consent and respect for women.
Those episodes formed the backdrop as Hampshire moved to sign Kuggeleijn for their run-in. The reaction was swift. By the time the first ball was bowled against Warwickshire, the county had reversed course.
“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.”
No further detail followed. The message was clear enough: the deal was off.
Kuggeleijn, a fast-medium bowler and lower-order hitter, has carved out a substantial professional career. He has represented Northern Districts for more than a decade and turned out earlier this year for the New Zealand domestic side before heading to Australia to play for the Kingsmen in a Darwin T20 league.
For New Zealand, he played three Tests, two one-day internationals and 18 T20s, his last appearance coming as recently as March 2024 against Australia in Christchurch.
Now, instead of using Hampshire as a late-season platform in England, he finds another door closed — not by form or fitness, but by a club deciding that the weight of its supporters’ voices was too loud to ignore.
