Mack Hansen will be available for Ireland’s Six Nations title defence despite a six-game misconduct ban handed down by URC chiefs.
Hansen, who picked up a six-game ban, with half of the sentence was suspended, has also issued a public apology following the winger’s explosive post-match comments after Connacht’s defeat to Leinster last month.
“People know I always wear my heart on my sleeve,” he said.
“However, after the Leinster game, on this occasion, I let my emotions get the better of me.
“Upon reflection, my comments to the media were ill-advised, and fell far short of the standards I expect of myself, and what the sport expects of its players.
“I want to offer an apology to the match officials for any distress my comments may have caused. Our games are built on mutual respect and I didn’t show that after the game.
“I also want to apologise to the URC, and I fully accept the findings of the independent disciplinary panel.
“I love Connacht, and I love rugby. Moving forward, I will channel all my energy and passion into representing my province and country to the absolute best of my ability – both on and off the field.”
Despite his remorse, both the player and his club have received a severe rap across the knuckles – with a €10k fine and potential further ban likely if there is any repeat from the Australian-born star after upholding the misconduct complaint.
Hansen was unlikely to play all three of the games he has been banned for and it had been expected that any inevitable punishment would not severely impinge upon his international campaign.
However, the URC were also conscious that, regardless of how the public and media may have felt about Hansen’s right to speak freely, they needed to draw a line in the sand.
“The panel considered the apology from the player and that attaching a learning process would have a more positive outcome rather than merely applying a playing sanction,” said the URC.
“In their conclusion, a six-week ban was deemed appropriate with three weeks suspended. The panel also imposed the following sanctions on the player:
“The Player must make a full apology to the Match Official (Chris Busby, IRFU) in charge of refereeing the Leinster v Connacht fixture.
“The Player must undertake an appropriate course (related to match officiating) as decided by Tappe Henning (URC Head of Match Officials) and Dudley Phillips (IRFU Head of Referees) with the learnings to be disseminated with his team-mates at Connacht Rugby;
“Connacht Rugby must run an education session with their players about how to conduct themselves in post-match media sessions and interactions with the media.”
After the defeat to Leinster, Hansen had queried why officials spent much time deciding if Connacht out-half Josh Ioane had been guilty of foul play for a tackle on Leinster hooker Gus McCarthy, while failing to give any heed to Jordie Barrett’s clean-out of Bundee Aki.
Hansen also complained of the absence of any checks when Ioane had to come off in the first half for a HIA after clashing heads with Charlie Tector.
He added that Connacht had been “pressured by 16 men instead of 15” in the Aviva and complained they had been “reffed out of the game for the first 40 minutes”.
“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 because it’s just getting to the point where it’s starting to really piss us off because we just feel we’re getting played out of games and we never ever get any calls,” Hansen said.
While Connacht coach Pete Wilkins argued that Hansen was not singling out referee, Chris Busby, the URC Board clearly disagreed.
“Hansen was charged with Misconduct in breach of Clause 3.2 of the Disciplinary Rules of the United Rugby Championship after comments that he made about the match officiating of the Round 8 Leinster Rugby versus Connacht Rugby game on December 21, 2024,” the URC said.
“Those comments included significant criticism of the referee officiating at that match.”
“In conclusion, the Player will now miss the next three games in Connacht Rugby’s fixture schedule:
January 11: v Lyon Rugby (ECPR Challenge Cup)
January 17: v Cardiff Rugby (ECPR Challenge Cup)
January 24: v Glasgow Warriors (BKT United Rugby Championship)
“The Player and the Club (among others including the League) have the right to appeal.”
Given an outcome that could have been far more severe, neither will do so.