Connacht winger Mack Hansen has been dominated out for 5 weeks with an ankle damage, very doubtless bringing his membership season to an finish.
The Ireland wing final featured for his facet within the Challenge Cup quarter-final loss to Racing 92 on April 12, and it was confirmed in an damage replace that he will likely be unavailable for his or her ultimate two matches of the common United Rugby Championship season, which start with a go to from Edinburgh this Saturday earlier than travelling to Italy to face Zebre the next week.
At the moment languishing in 14th place within the URC, the play-offs appear unlikely for the province, although mathematically doable. Although Hansen might return in time ought to Connacht mount a heroic flourish on the denouement of the season to make it to the semi-finals or ultimate, he has realistically performed his ultimate match for his membership this season.
The 27-year-old stays a contender to make Andy Farrell’s British and Irish Lions squad to tackle the nation of his delivery, Australia, on the finish of the season.
With the squad set to be named on Thursday, May 8, Hansen was not going to have any more time to influence the selectors anyway, but the prognosis will be a concern for Farrell.
While Hansen is expected to be back in time for the Lions tour, there will be question marks over his form and fitness before embarking for Australia. With plenty of back three players in Britain and Ireland at the top of their game currently, that may be enough to sway Farrell’s decision despite the former Australia U20 wing being one among his favourites within the inexperienced of Eire.
This newest damage comes after a Guinness Six Nations the place the wing was pressured to overlook two matches as a result of a hamstring damage and a thigh damage.
Elsewhere within the replace, it was constructive information for Farrell with Bundee Aki accessible for Connacht’s ultimate matches having missed the latest tour of South Africa with a heel damage.