Lindisfarne College educated, Hugh played for Hawkes Bay 2016 to 2017. 2017 saw him play a full season for the Magpies and 1 match for the Hurricanes before heading to Canterbury in 2018. Injury curtailed him to 4 appearances. After a year off he joined the Mako backrow for 2020, playing 11 matches and earning a call up to the Highlanders.