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 a news cycle. Under pressure from their own people, the county has torn up a short-term deal before he could bowl a ball.
Kuggeleijn, 34, had been lined up to debut against Warwickshire in the County Championship, with the match starting last night NZT. Hampshire’s website quietly confirmed he had been signed for the final four fixtures of their season, yet the announcement never reached the club’s social media channels.
The silence did not stop the reaction.
Criticism quickly built on social platforms once word of his arrival spread, and by the time play was about to begin, Hampshire had reversed course. The club confirmed just before the start that Kuggeleijn would not feature in any of the four matches.
In a brief statement, Hampshire made the climbdown official.
“Having reflected and listened to feedback from staff and supporters Hampshire Cricket can confirm that Scott Kuggeleijn will not represent the club,” the club said. “We value the passion of our fanbase and thank everyone who took the time to share their views.”
The controversy around Kuggeleijn has followed him for years.
In 2016, he pleaded not guilty in the Hamilton District Court to the sexual violation by rape of a 21-year-old woman. A jury failed to reach a verdict, forcing a retrial the following year. He was found not guilty at that second trial.
Legally cleared, he still walked into a storm.
New Zealand Cricket selected the fast-medium bowler for the Black Caps in an ODI against Ireland in Dublin just months after the retrial. His recall for home T20 and one-day matches in 2019 sparked visible protests.
At Wellington’s cricket stadium, a woman who brought a sign carrying an anti-rape slogan during a match in which Kuggeleijn was playing said she was told by security to either surrender the banner or leave. As security staff spoke to her group, people nearby began chanting “no means no” in the stands.
New Zealand Cricket later admitted they had got it wrong.
“The message certainly wasn’t offensive, so it was a mistake to take that course of action,” then public affairs manager Richard Boock said, as the governing body apologised for the way security handled the situation.
Boock also outlined that NZ Cricket had recently introduced an annual training module for professional players, covering sexual harassment, consent, and respect for women — an attempt to modernise standards around behaviour and education in the professional game.
On the field, Kuggeleijn’s international record is modest but significant. He has played three Tests, two ODIs and 18 T20 internationals for New Zealand, operating as a skiddy, fast-medium option who can contribute lower-order runs. His most recent appearance for the Black Caps came against Australia in Christchurch in March 2024.
Hampshire had hoped to tap into that experience for the run-in. Instead, they have become the latest club to learn that some signings are no longer judged purely on pace, swing, and statistics.
