Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

19 July 2025; Joe McCarthy of British & Irish Lions leaves the pitch upon being substituted during the first test match between Australia and the British & Irish Lions at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Australia. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

McCarthy and Hansen sit out training in Melbourne

Joe McCarthy and Mack Hansen both sat out training in Melbourne on Monday, but the British and Irish Lions are hopeful both players will be available for Saturday's second Test against Australia.

British and Irish Lions • 21 Jul

12 July 2025; Mack Hansen of British & Irish Lions runs onto the pitch before the tour match between AUNZ XV and the British & Irish Lions at the Adelaide Oval in Adelaide, Australia. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Hansen's Lions Test debut in doubt due to foot injury

Mack Hansen has emerged as a major doubt for the British and Irish Lions' first Test against Australia, with Blair Kinghorn also struggling to be ready in time for the Brisbane showdown.

Rugby • 15 Jul

20 June 2025; Mack Hansen of British & Irish Lions during the Lions 1888 Cup match between the British & Irish Lions and Argentina at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Hansen: Force will have target on our backs in Perth

Mack Hansen knows what is awaiting the British and Irish Lions' in Perth on Saturday after being present as a spectator for the Brumbies' famous upset of the tourists on their last visit to Australia.

Rugby • 27 Jun

Mack Hansen

The former Brumbies wing has had an injury disrupted couple of seasons but had done enough to earn a trip back to his native country.

British and Irish Lions • 19 Jun

Tadhg Furlong looks set to feature against Italy

Furlong and Hansen give Ireland injury boost

Tadhg Furlong and Mack Hansen are set to be available for Ireland's clash with Italy in the Guinness Six Nations at Stadio Olimpico on Saturday.

Rugby • 10 Mar

Mack Hansen signed a new two-year contract with Ireland and Connacht this week

Hansen: I owe a hell of a lot to the guys in this team

With a new contract bringing him up to the next Rugby World Cup in 2027, Mack Hansen says he's ready to repay the faith shown in him by the Irish management.

Rugby • 05 Mar

Mack Hansen will play, at least, two more years at Connacht

Hansen signs two-year deal with Irish Rugby

Mack Hansen has committed his immediate future to Ireland and Connacht Rugby by signing a new two-year central contract.

Rugby • 03 Mar

Mack Hansen has scored 12 tries in 26 games for Ireland

Hansen targets Lions pick as 'pinnacle of rugby'

Mack Hansen is targeting a place in Andy Farrell's Lions squad, inspired by memories of a famous win for the Brumbies in 2013.

Rugby • 11 Feb

Mack Hansen suffered a cut to his leg against England

Ireland's Hansen and Bealham on course for Scotland tie

Tadhg Furlong and Joe McCarthy have been ruled out of Ireland's Guinness Six Nations game against Scotland but Finlay Bealham and Mack Hansen are on course to be fit.

Rugby • 05 Feb

Ireland pair Hansen and Bealham on course for Scotland

Tadhg Furlong and Joe McCarthy have been ruled out of Ireland's Guinness Six Nations game against Scotland but Finlay Bealham and Mack Hansen are on course to be fit.

Rugby • 05 Feb

Finlay Bealham suffered a leg injury against England

Ireland sweating on Bealham and Hansen for Scots trip

Ireland are hopeful that Finlay Bealham and Mack Hansen will be available to face Scotland after the pair picked up injuries in the Six Nations win over England.

Rugby • 03 Feb

Chris Busby is poised to retire from refereeing

Referee Busby confirms he is set to retire

Referee Chris Busby has confirmed that he is will retire "over the next few months".

Rugby • 30 Jan

Tappe Henning: 'We'll try to turn it into a positive in the relationships between match officials and teams and players'

Henning hopes 'game will benefit' from Hansen incident

The exact nature of Mack Hansen's re-education training is still under discussion but the URC is hopeful it will allow for the Ireland wing to present a "player's perspective".

Rugby • 23 Jan

Mack Hansen is serving a three-match ban

Hansen to come back 'just a little wiser', says Wilkins

Pete Wilkins is confident Mack Hansen won't lose any of his personality after he completes his URC-mandated education session about how to conduct dealings with the media.

Rugby • 20 Jan

Hansen to return 'just a little wiser', says Wilkins

Pete Wilkins is confident Mack Hansen won't lose any of his personality after he completes his URC-mandated education session about how to conduct dealings with the media.

Rugby • 20 Jan

Robbie Henaw (l) talks to Simon Easterby at an Ireland training session in 2023

Henshaw not worried about Farrell fall-off

Robbie Henshaw doesn't believe there will be a fall-off when Simon Easterby takes over from Andy Farrell for the Guinness Six Nations.

Rugby • 15 Jan

Henshaw not worried about Farrell fall-off

Robbie Henshaw doesn't believe there will be a fall-off when Simon Easterby takes over from Andy Farrell for the Guinness Six Nations.

Rugby • 15 Jan

Pete Wilkins (r) says he's confident Mack Hansen's contract situation will be sorted soon

Hansen contract delay not related to ban, says Wilkins

Connacht head coach Pete Wilkins says the delay in Mack Hansen's contract extension has nothing to do with the recent disciplinary process the winger went through.

Rugby • 13 Jan

Mack Hansen was given a six-game ban, with three of those matches suspended

Rugby sending mixed messages but Hansen ban fits crime

All things considered, it would have been naive to think Mack Hansen would escape without a suspension for his comments on the refereeing of his side's defeat to Leinster just before Christmas.

United Rugby Championship • 09 Jan

Rugby sending mixed messages but Hansen ban fits crime

All things considered, it would have been naive to think Mack Hansen would escape without a suspension for his comments on the refereeing of his side's defeat to Leinster just before Christmas.

United Rugby Championship • 09 Jan

Hansen gets three-match ban but available for 6 Nations

Ireland winger Mack Hansen has been banned for three games for comments he made following Connacht's defeat to Leinster in the URC in December.

Rugby • 09 Jan

Breaking Hansen gets three-match ban but available for 6 Nations

Ireland winger Mack Hansen has been banned for three games for comments he made following Connacht's defeat to Leinster in the URC in December.

Rugby • 09 Jan

Hansen hearing on referee comments set for Wednesday

Mack Hansen will face a disciplinary hearing on Wednesday regarding his comments made in the aftermath of Connacht's URC loss to Leinster before Christmas.

Rugby • 06 Jan

Mack Hansen made his feelings clear about the way he feels Connacht's games have been refereed in Saturday's press conference

Hansen's press conference candour 'refreshing' - Ferris

Stephen Ferris feels it was "really refreshing" to see a player being as candid as Mack Hansen was on Saturday night after Connacht's defeat to Leinster in the BKT United Rugby Championship.

Rugby • 23 Dec 24

Mack Hansen's comments have dominated the fallout from Connacht's defeat to Leinster

Wilkins backs Mack as Connacht wait on URC response

Connacht head coach Pete Wilkins says the province are yet to find out whether or not Mack Hansen will be sanctioned for his comments on the officiating in Saturday's 20-12 defeat to Leinster.

United Rugby Championship • 02 Jan