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Aussie born breakout star of URC gets Ireland call-up
By PA
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.
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.
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Latest Comments
Lakai? Hell no, Kirifi is the like for like. I could never imagine Lakai throwing a dummy like Ardie, his had’s and offload are probably his best asset. Still a good option to replace Ardies function within the group. Happy for that to phase in slowly over the next two years.
Kirifi is someone demanding attention as Ardie’s/the teams go to back up option though. Like with you’re Kaino ref though, happy for that to reverse back again if Lakai simply starts outperforming him again. The Kaino role has really been filled by Cane (perhaps because they didn’t find a replacement) and the 6’s that have been used are more like a Read/Jones/Flavell/Fifita.
I really do like the idea of that rock being a little bigger and a little tougher than Cane though. Miracle looks like that guy, and there are few possible young kiwis coming through too. Barrett over Vaa’i for me, he just has a little of the mongrol and flair you also want.
Go to commentsI think you have gone in the wrong direction here Nick. I think you need to delve down into the rules etc around Moana Pacifica’s selection policies and then you need to understand that a lot of KIWI BORN rugby players have PI heritage. It appears ok for the 4 home nations to pillage NZ born players constantly without retribution but you want to question whether NZ BORN players should be eligible for NZ? Seems a real agenda in there.
Go back and look at the actual Aims and agenda for MP becoming a entity and you see lots of things enshrined in policy that you arnt mentioning here. EG there is an allowance for a percentage of MP to be NZ eligible. This was done so MP could actually become competitive. Lets be real. If it wasnt this way then MP would not be competitive.
There also seems to be some sort of claim ( mainly from the NH ) that NZ is “cashing in” on MP, which , quite frankly is a major error. Are you aware of how much MP costs NZR Financially?
39 NZ born rugby players played at the last world cup for Samoa or Tonga. PLUS plenty for Scotland, England, Ireland and Wales.
Taumoefolau is a BORN AND BRED NZer. However I very strongly doubt he will be an AB, but who do you believe he should be allowed to play for? Levi Aumua is ALSO a born and bred Kiwi.
Aumua was eligible to represent Samoa and Fiji for the Pacific Nations Cup in July that year but ended up playing for neither. He IS eligible for his nation of Birth too Nick
He is a Kiwi. Are you saying an NZ born, raised Kiwi cant play for NZ now?
Sorry Nick Kiwi born and bred actually qualify for NZ.
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