Very few rugby players boast a picture of their head coach on their leg, but Connacht and Ireland wing Mack Hansen is no ordinary rugby player. Last week, Lions head-coach Andy Farrell repaid his faith in the tried and trusted Hansen, who, despite injury rumours that suggested he would be ruled out of the tour, … Read more
Mack Hansen, one of four returning Ireland internationals, has been named at fullback, for Connacht’s history making URC fixture against Munster in Castlebar. The 27-year-old has played the majority of his rugby on the wing for club and country but has plenty of experience in the 15-jersey dating back to his days in Australia. It … Read more
Ireland attack coach Andrew Goodman has confirmed that star quintet Tadhg Furlong, Ronan Kelleher, Mack Hansen, James Lowe and Garry Ringrose are likely to be available for selection for their final Six Nations Test against Italy. The men in green head to Rome after a disappointing defeat to France, which ended their hopes of a Grand … Read more
Although there was the usual mayhem in his fixture, especially in a disconcerting first half of repeated head-knocks and four HIAs, ultimately Ireland emerged from Sunday’s 32-18 Six Nations win in Murrayfield seemingly unscathed, as well as on top of the table. What’s more, Joe McCarthy will be back in the mix and could feature … Read more
Ireland captain Caelan Doris expects Calvin Nash to prove an able deputy once more after being drafted in to start Sunday’s Six Nations showdown with Scotland (kick-off 3pm) following the late withdrawal of Mack Hansen. The 27-year-old Munster winger played all five Six Nations fixtures and two summer Tests last year when Hansen was sidelined … Read more
Simon Easterby is expected to keep changes to a minimum, if making any at all, when unveiling the Irish team to face Scotland in Murrayfield next Sunday (kick-off 3pm). The starting XV and replacements will be announced on Friday morning and, barring injuries, could well remain unchanged, with Sam Prendergast to retain the number 10 … Read more
Chris Busby. A good man, and now a significant loss to elite rugby refereeing. The first thing to say is that I have not spoken to Busby following his decision to resign. These are my words, my opinion, and it shouldn’t be construed that I am writing on his behalf. I’m not. It’s uncertain as … Read more
Funny, isn’t it, how some bans work out? If you’d thought about it, before Mack Hansen’s midweek disciplinary hearing for the remarks he made about the officiating immediately after their pre-Christmas loss to Leinster, a three-week suspension would have served to hit the player and the province, while leaving him free to play for Ireland … Read more
Mack Hansen has been served a three-game suspension and ordered to both apologise to referee Chris Busby and undertake a course on refereeing after comments he made following Connacht’s loss to Leinster last year. Hansen made comments criticising the standard of officiating Connacht are often subject to and insinuated they’d been playing against 16 men … Read more
Mack Hansen’s post-match diatribe following Connacht’s URC defeat to Leinster seemed to be borne of raw, unfiltered frustration that had been percolating for a while rather than with malice aforethought. But once that Pandora’s box of his observations had been opened, there was no getting the lid back on. The only thing to be determined … Read more