Ireland winger Mack Hansen facing lengthy ban for outburst at referee
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Mack Hansen, the fiery Connacht and Ireland wing, is set to face an independent disciplinary hearing on Wednesday after his explosive post-match comments accusing officials of "b——t" bias against his side.
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Hansen alleged that Connacht were effectively playing against "16 men" in their recent United Rugby Championship (URC) loss to Leinster.
“We Never Get Any Calls”
Speaking after the 20-12 defeat on December 21, Hansen didn't hold back. "I'm not making excuses by any means but, like, when you just get it week after week, I feel it's got to be spoken about," he told reporters. "It's just getting to the point where it's starting to really piss us off because we feel we're being played out of games and never ever get any calls."
The Australia-born wing further vented his frustrations to RTE Sport: "It's like we get that every time so you can hear the frustration in my voice 'cos it's starting to get to the point where, honestly, it's b——t."
URC Law and Misconduct Hearing
Hansen now faces charges under URC law 3.3.13, which prohibits "any conduct, behaviour, statements—including those made on social media—that is unsporting, insulting, or brings the sport, the Championship, other Clubs, match officials, or Persons into disrepute."
Connacht head coach Pete Wilkins has already reached out to the URC's head of referees, Tappe Henning, to provide context for Hansen's remarks.
Six Nations Blow for Ireland?
A suspension for Hansen would be a significant setback for Ireland's interim head coach Simon Easterby. With 13 tries in 27 Tests, Hansen is a key figure in Ireland's Six Nations campaign, which kicks off on February 1 against England at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.
All Eyes on Dublin
The Six Nations promises to be fiercely contested, with Ireland—ranked world number one—aiming to defend their Grand Slam title. England, under new head coach Steve Borthwick, will look to avenge their disappointing 2024 campaign. Meanwhile, France, led by Antoine Dupont, and a resurgent Scotland add further intrigue to the tournament.
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