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Mack Hansen is out of Ireland’s Six Nations and Connacht’s Champions Cup with a dislocated shoulder
Mack Hansen had surgery to correct a dislocated shoulder, thus he will miss Ireland’s Six Nations title defense. Three to four months are anticipated to pass before the winger returns. Connacht’s final two Investec Champions Cup pool games against Lyon on January 13 and Bristol Bears on January 19 will also be missed by Hansen. On February 2, Ireland plays their first match in Marseille against France.
Due to a shoulder dislocation, Ireland’s Mack Hansen, a winger, will not be participating in the Six Nations tournament.
Connacht revealed that Hansen will miss their last two Investec Champions Cup pool games against Lyon on January 13 and Bristol Bears on January 19, with an estimated three to four months of recovery time following surgery on Monday.
The injury was sustained by Hansen, who has 21 caps for Ireland, during his team’s 22-9 victory over Munster in the United Rugby Championship on New Year’s Day.
The 25-year-old Mack Hansen, who started three of Ireland’s 2023 Rugby World Cup group games, will miss the Six Nations and Connacht’s Champions Cup due to a dislocated shoulder. Hansen, part of the quarter-final loss to New Zealand, has scored nine tries in 21 Tests since his debut in February 2022.
In addition to Hansen, prop Dave Kilcoyne is also unavailable as Ireland defends their Six Nations title. The 35-year-old underwent shoulder surgery and is expected to be out for up to six months.
In Ireland’s back three, James Lowe has been sidelined with a foot injury since the loss to New Zealand, while utility back Jimmy O’Brien is facing months out due to a neck injury.
Ireland’s opening Six Nations game against France is set for February 2 in Marseille, with their final match against Scotland in Dublin six weeks later.
Connacht head coach Pete Wilkins expressed disappointment over losing Mack Hansen for an extended period, stating, “He was starting to find some form and rhythm, having been stop-start since the World Cup, so everyone loses out in that sense, and I think the fans will miss watching him play as well. So it is up to us to fill that gap, and obviously, other players get a chance to step up.”
