MACK IN ACTION
Mack Hansen reveals planned Ireland return date after being ruled out Six Nations due to shoulder injury
Hansen is also holding out hope of playing again for Connacht before the end of the season
MACK HANSEN has revealed the date on which he plans to return to the Ireland jersey.
The Connacht winger has had to watch the 2024 Six Nations from the sidelines due to a shoulder injury.
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Hansen suffered the injury in Connacht's United Rugby Championship clash against Munster on New Year's Day.
The 25-year-old - who had only just come back from a foot problem picked up at the World Cup - went under the knife to rectify the issue.
His only involvement in any of the Championship games saw him turn up at the Aviva Stadium for their 36-0 win over Italy, while he was invited into camp on Monday and Tuesday.
However, he has revealed that he plans on being available for Andy Farrell for their summer tour in South Africa.
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Meanwhile, Hansen is also holding out hope of playing again for Connacht before the end of the season.
The Aussie-born winger said: “Aiming for around May, I think, to be back for then. Still a little bit to go, but all tracking in the right place.
“It’s been a bit of a pain, not gonna lie. Obviously I’d like to be in contention for the Six Nations this year, watching how good the guys have been doing as well, hasn’t made it easier.
“Saying that, I’m absolutely stoked for them. I was able to see a few of them this week, and that kind of helped.
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"It was kind of nice to be back in there and know that you’re not forgotten almost.”
Hansen has put the Munster game behind me, holding no ill will towards Josh Hodnett who was involved in the incident in question.
Mack Hansen in stitches as pals take spill into lake during trip to Australia
He added: “There was no malicious intent or anything like that involved with it. He did actually leave a message afterwards seeing how I was and all that.
“Yeah, it was just one of those things. It was just part of footy really. And then ended up getting the Latarjet (surgery) done.
“So a couple of screws in there and I’ve been told the shoulder is as good as the bone and can’t be moved again so fingers crossed, fingers crossed turned into the immovable object I guess you could say."
Irish Rugby International Mack Hansen was today announced as the Irish ambassador for this year’s Wings for Life World Run, the world’s largest running event. Taking place globally on Sunday May 5th, all funds raised from the run go directly to spinal cord research at the Wings for Life Foundation. To register and to join Mack’s team, visit www.wingsforlifeworldrun.com.