Connacht outline Mack Hansen return date after 8-month lay-off

Connacht head coach Pete Wilkins has confirmed that Ireland wing Mack Hansen has completed a "full pre-season" and is expected to be ready for their first United Rugby Championship match of the season on September 21.

Sale Sharks travel to Galway on Saturday for Connacht's first pre-season match ahead of the new campaign, though Wilkins has said that Hansen is likely to miss that match.

The 21-cap Ireland wing has been out of action since dislocating his shoulder against Munster on New Year's Day- an injury that required an operation.

Hansen is expected to make his competitive return against the same opposition as Connacht get their URC season underway against Munster at Thomond Park.

While Hansen will miss the encounter with Sale, Wilkins confirmed that he will get minutes under his belt in other pre-season matches before the season starts.

"Mack is in full training, he has done a full pre-season with us," Wilkins said ahead of the meeting with Sale.

"We are happy with how he is tracking but we probably won’t use him against Sale.

"I don’t think that’s necessary at this point, but we’ll keep ramping him up, and he’ll definitely get pre-season minutes with a view to being ready for round one.

"He is tracking nicely, but we most likely won’t use him this weekend."

Other than Argentina wing Santiago Cordero, who is currently competing in the Rugby Championship, Wilkins confirmed that the club have their full complement of players.

However, Hansen's Ireland teammates Finlay Bealham and Bundee Aki are not expected to make their URC returns until round three.