Ireland's favourite Aussie 'pumped' for shot at Paddy's day weekend grand slam
Mack Hansen is Ireland’s favourite Australian – and could become a national sporting hero in green with a grand slam rugby triumph this weekend.
Hansen loves the craic, can’t help speaking his wandering mind and makes people howl with laughter even when dropping the odd F-word.
Oh yes, and he also happens to play rugby like a dream which, as a package, makes it little wonder that he’s become Ireland’s favourite Aussie.
And come Saturday night, the moustachioed Canberra flyer, now a cult figure in his adopted home, may well have joined their band of national sports heroes if he can help the men in green beat England to win only the fourth Six Nations grand slam in their history.
For in the world’s No.1 team, Hansen has become the joker beyond the pack, the winger with the X-factor who’s been so outstanding with his creating, finishing and defence that he was player of the match in both recent wins over Italy and Scotland.
After his two-try Italian job, he picked up his award, nearly knocked over a microphone stand, muttered “F***!” before then apologising profusely and rather hilariously in a clip that soon went viral.
Then this week, he cheerily set the agenda by observing that he probably “shouldn’t say too much” before doing just that, musing aloud: “I think everybody hates England in general”.
You could almost imagine Ireland’s English coach Andy Farrell sighing at the 24-year-old giving the opposition’s team talk for them.
But that’s Hansen for you. A bit of a character, a maverick who’s become beloved by the good folk of Galway on Ireland’s west coast ever since he took a gamble, moved to his mum Diana’s homeland and turned his back on a Wallabies’ future.
When Ireland last beat England to win the grand slam at Twickenham in 2018, Hansen was combining his burgeoning rugby career with the Brumbies and Australia Under-20s with his trade as a trainee electrician.
But the man who memorably described himself as “the worst sparky in Canberra” began illuminating the Irish rugby scene as soon as he took up the offer to join Irish province Connacht in 2021.
And what a player. His performances have been dazzling at both provincial and Test level, ever since Farrell identified him as a “brilliant finisher” and “smart rugby player … who sees things that put him ahead of the game.”
His excellence, having scored six tries in 13 Tests, inevitably led to questions about how this sure-fire Wallaby managed to bound away, but it’s too late for laments as Hansen is enjoying the time of his life in a country that loves his free spirit.
“I’m very happy where I am. The decision to play for Ireland has been the best decision of my career and my life. I’m loving it over here,” he explained before playing against the Wallabies – and beating them – in November.
“It is still nice to hear from your peers and people back home, but not once have I been upset or kind of thought, ‘what if I’d stayed there or not made the move?’.”
Hansen has laid down roots in his new home, buying a property on the outskirts of Galway while sealing a deal with Connacht that will see him at the club until the summer of 2025.
And what a time to be Irish – even one with a broad Aussie accent – as this one-time party animal could be about to join the biggest one of all in Dublin on St Patrick’s Day weekend.
“I’m so pumped for it, it’s going to be unbelievable … the crazier the better!” he smiled. “Paddy’s Day weekend, the script couldn’t be better for us.”
Comments on RugbyPass
It was a pleasure to watch those guys playing with such confidence. That trio can all be infuriating for different reasons and I can see why Jones might have decided against them. No way to justify leaving Ikitau out though. Jorgensen and him were both scheduled to return at the same time. Only one of them plays for Randwick and has a dad who is great mates with the national coach though.
53 Go to commentsBrayden Iose and Peter Lakai are very exciting Super Rugby players but are too short and too light to ever be a Test 8 vs South Africa, France, Ireland, and England, Lakai could potentially be a Test player at 7 if he is allowed to focus on 7 for Hurricanes.
5 Go to commentsPencils “Thomas du Toit” into possible 2027 Bok squad.
1 Go to commentsDon’t see why Harrison makes the bench. Jones can play at 10 if needed, and there is a good case for starting her there to begin with if testing combinations. That would leave room for Sing on the bench
1 Go to commentsWhat a load of old bull!
1 Go to commentsOf the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.
29 Go to commentsIrish Rugby CEO be texting Andy Farrell “Andy, i found our next Kiwi Irishman”
5 Go to commentsI certainly don’t miss drinking beers at 8am in the morning watching rugby games being played in NZ.
1 Go to commentsThis looks like a damage limitation exercise for Wales, keeping back some of their more effective players for the last 20/25 minutes to try and counter England’s fresh legs so the Red Roses don’t rack up a big score.
1 Go to commentsVery unlikely the Bulls will beat Leinster in Dublin. It would be different in Pretoria.
1 Go to commentsI think it is a dangerous path to go down to ban a player for the same period that a player they injured takes to recover. Players would be afraid to tackle anyone. I once tackled my best friend at school in a practice match and sprained his ankle. I paid for it by having to play fly-half instead of full-back for the rest of that season’s fixtures.
5 Go to commentsJust such a genuine good bloke…and probably the best all round player in his generation. Good guys do come first sometimes and he handled the W.Cup loss with great attitude.
2 Go to commentsWord in France is that he’s on the radar of a few Top14 clubs.
5 Go to commentsGet blocking Travis, this guy has styles and he’s gonna make a swift impact…!
1 Go to commentsWhat remorse? She claimed that her dangerous tackle wasn’t worthy of a red! She should be compensating the injured player for loss of earnings at the minimum. Her ban should include the recovery time of the injured player as well as the paltry 3 match ban.
5 Go to commentsArdie is a legend. Finished and klaar. Two things: “Yeah, yeah, I have had a few conversations with Razor just around feedback on my game and what I am doing well, what I need to improve on or work-ons. It’s kind of been minimal, mate, but it’s all that I need over here in terms of how to be better, how to get better and what I am doing well.” I hope he’s downplaying it - and that it’s not that “minimal”. The amount of communication and behind the scenes preparation the Bok coaches put into players - Rassie and co would be all over Ardie and being clear on what is expected of him. This stands out for me as something teams should really be looking at in terms of the boks success from a coaching point of view. And was surprised by the comment - “minimal”. In terms of the “debate” around Ireland and South Africa. Nice one Ardie. Indeed. There’s no debate.
2 Go to commentsThere’s a bit of depth there but realistically Australian players have a long way to go to now catch up. The game is moving on fast and Australia are falling behind. Australian sides still don’t priories the breakdown like they should, it’s a non-negotiable if you want to compete on the international stage. That goes for forwards and backs. The Australian team could have a back row that could make a difference but the problem is they don’t have a tight five that can do the business. Tupou is limited in defence, overweight and unfit and the locks are a long way from international standard. Frost is soft and Salakai-Loto is too small so that means they need a Valentini at 8 who has to do the hard graft so limits the effectiveness of the backrow. Schmidt really needs to get a hard working, tough tight 5 if he wants to get this team firing.
3 Go to commentsSorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
2 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
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