Sport

EXCLUSIVE: Mack Hansen says 'It means everything to play for Ireland at RWC'

Ireland winger Mack Hansen has said that it means everything to wear an Ireland jersey ahead of this year's Rugby World Cup in France.

The Connacht and Ireland winger will play in his World Cup when the tournament kicks off in the autumn and will be part of an Ireland squad that will be desperate to get past the quarter-finals of the tournament.

Ireland were knocked out in 2019, 2015, and 2011. This goal of reaching the semi-finals has been set

Ireland has never gone past that stage of a Rugby World Cup. Ireland were knocked out in 2019, 2015, and 2011. This goal of reaching the semi-finals has been set, but the Ireland team will also be looking to win the tournament outright because of their status as the number one ranked side in the world.

And the winner of #GuinnessSixNations try of the round is... 🥁 Mack Hansen! 👏
Watch every angle of the insane try 🤩 pic.twitter.com/EtfpDnHCXB

— Guinness Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) February 14, 2022

Hansen,is part of Ireland's victories over New Zealand in their own backyard and the home Grand Slam win this year, spoke to the Irish Post this week. The Connacht winger sat down for an exclusive interview to talk about how Ireland's players are feeling about the tournament in France, the idea of potentially playing Australia in the final, and where his family stands in the Australia vs. Ireland debate.

When first asked if World Cup fever has hit the Ireland camp yet, Hansen admitted that the main focus was getting Ireland's three warm-up games out of the way first.

Ireland has arranged three summer warm-up matches as part of their preparations for the Rugby World Cup. They will face Italy at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday, August 5, followed by England two weeks later. The third warm-up match will be against Samoa in Bayonne on Saturday, August 26.

"Yeah well, obviously, it's in the front of our minds for sure, and that's what we are working towards, but we still have got three trial games coming up. So it's just focusing on getting those out of the way and getting everyone healthy and going from there. It's been a little bit of pre-season over the last few weeks. Like I said, once we get through those games, we will hit France, and it will really hit home, I'd say."

Hansen's rugby journey has witnessed a meteoric ascent ever since Connacht's Director of Rugby Andy Friend's son gave a ringing endorsement about Hansen's talents and potential. He signed with Connacht for the 2020/2021 club season.

Since then, the Australian-born native has won 2 Triple Crowns (2022, 2023), 1 Six Nations Championship (2023), and 1 Grand Slam (2023).

Hansen has become one of the country's best players in a short space of time since his debut in 2022. When asked what it means to wear an Ireland jersey at the World Cup, the Connacht player said, "It literally means everything," added Hansen. "I never thought that I'd be able to do it or get to a World Cup, especially in the team I am in at the moment. I think we have real belief that we can do it. We have a hard pool leading into it, but at the end of the day, you have to beat everyone you face, so we understand it's going to be a tough road, but we know it's going to be even sweeter."

Ireland has a difficult route if they are to make it to the final. Ireland's Pool B group contains Romania, Tonga, Scotland, and South Africa. If Ireland does get out of their pool, they face the daunting task of either playing New Zealand or France in the quarter-finals of the event.

The other side of the draw has Australia and England in it, and one of those two could meet Ireland in the semi-final or final. When asked how hewould feel about potentially playing Australia in the final, the Ireland winger claimed it would be 'unreal', but at the end of the day, it would not matter regardless of who Ireland plays.

"I just want to beat them. There would be no weird feelings at all. I am here to win with Ireland and to get the job done regardless of the team. To beat Australia in the final would be unreal because some of the mates I grew up with would make it cool, but at the end of the day, the only focus would be beating them. It wouldn't make it any different."

Having been born and raised in the Australian capital of Canberra, by an Irish mother from Castlemartyr in Cork, the Hansen clan household will have to choose between an Irish jersey and an Australian jersey this year. Hansen was asked who his family would be supporting this year when it came to the two countries and he emphatically by saying that his family better be rooting for Ireland.

"No, no, no, they would be going for me," joked Hansen. "They'll have the green on supporting me as well. It wouldn't make a difference whoever we play in the final. We'd take everyone seriously."

Hansen was speaking as an ambassador for rugby clothing giants Canterbury. The sports brand launched a new state-of-the-art lightweight boot. Weighing just 217g, the Speed Infinite Elites were released on July 6, and Hansen, along with England flyers Adam Radwan and Jodie Ounsley, got to test out the boot.

"For me, growing up, Canterbury weren't the best boots in the world, but I can genuinely say that these new boots are class. They are comfy and light, and they are definitely a massive step up from what I used to wear."

For more details on the new 'Speed Infinite Elites,' click here.