Aussie born breakout star of URC gets Ireland call-up

Uncapped Connacht wing Mack Hansen will train with Ireland’s squad this week ahead of Saturday’s autumn international against Japan in Dublin.

Australia-born Hansen has scored four tries in five appearances since joining the province on a two-year deal from the Brumbies in the summer.

The 23-year-old represented his native country at under-20 level but is eligible for Ireland as his mother hails from Cork.

Dan Biggar | All Access | Why the Autumn Series is the most brutal in rugby

Dan Biggar | All Access | Why the Autumn Series is the most brutal in rugby

We were lucky enough to speak with Dan Biggar on All Access with Jim Hamilton in association with Amazon Prime this week. Wales is set to embark on a tough Autumn Nations Series against South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.

Share

Video Player is loading.

Play Video

Pause

Unmute

Current Time 0:00

/

Duration 29:37

Loaded: 0%

00:00

Stream Type LIVE

Seek to live, currently behind liveLIVE

Remaining Time -29:37

 

1x

Playback Rate

Chapters

• Chapters

Descriptions

• descriptions off, selected

Captions

• captions settings, opens captions settings dialog
• captions off, selected

Audio Track

• en (Main), selected

Fullscreen

This is a modal window.

Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.

Text

ColorWhiteBlackRedGreenBlueYellowMagentaCyanTransparencyOpaqueSemi-Transparent

Background

ColorBlackWhiteRedGreenBlueYellowMagentaCyanTransparencyOpaqueSemi-TransparentTransparent

Window

ColorBlackWhiteRedGreenBlueYellowMagentaCyanTransparencyTransparentSemi-TransparentOpaque

Font Size

50%75%100%125%150%175%200%300%400%

Text Edge Style

NoneRaisedDepressedUniformDropshadow

Font Family

Proportional Sans-SerifMonospace Sans-SerifProportional SerifMonospace SerifCasualScriptSmall Caps

Reset restore all settings to the default valuesDone

Close Modal Dialog

End of dialog window.

Close Modal Dialog

This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button.

Close Modal Dialog

This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button.

Dan Biggar | All Access | Why the Autumn Series is the most brutal in rugby

British and Irish Lion Robbie Henshaw, who was left out of the 38-man squad named by head coach Andy Farrell on October 20 following a foot injury, will continue his rehabilitation programme under the direction of the Ireland medical team.

The Irish Rugby Football Union has also announced that Munster second row Thomas Ahern and Leinster back Jamie Osborne have returned to their respective provinces having trained with the national team last week.

After facing the Brave Blossoms this weekend, Ireland have an Aviva Stadium appointment with New Zealand the following Saturday before hosting Argentina at the same venue on Sunday, November 21.

Signed by the Brumbies straight out of school in 2018, the former Junior Wallaby honed his craft for the Gungahlin Eagles in the John I Dent Cup before making his Super Rugby debut against the NSW Waratahs in 2019.

2020 was a breakout year for Hansen, earning his starting debut at fullback for the Brumbies against the Melbourne Rebels before famously kicking the winning penalty goal to defeat the Queensland Reds after the 80th minute at GIO Stadium.

Brumby number 216, the versatile Hansen started every game in 2021 on the wing, before announcing his departure for Connacht.