Boost for Connacht as Mack Hansen 'ready to go' for Ulster clash

Connacht have been boosted by the return to fitness of Ireland wing Mack Hansen ahead of Friday's BKT United Rugby Championship clash trip to Ulster.

The 25-year-old limped off in the province’s Investec Champions Cup defeat to Bordueux Begles on 8 December after aggravating the same foot injury that had kept him sidelined for six URC games after the World Cup.

The Westerners have lost their last four matches, including a 55-36 Investec Champions Cup reverse at Saracens on Saturday.

"It was the same part of the foot and it presented in the same way in terms of the symptoms," head coach Pete Wilkins told RTÉ Sport as his team prepares to take on Ulster at the Kingspan Stadium on Friday night (7.35pm).

"Fortunately, it wasn’t as serious as what he suffered at the World Cup.

"He was already up and rehab running at the end of last week, which was really positive, good news, it’s great for all us.

"Any of those sort of injuries where there’s not a big collision that you can put it down to but when somebody does pull up like that it can be a concern so it’s certainly a relief and he’s bouncing and ready to go."

Full-back Tiernan O’Halloran, meanwhile, won’t return until the end of January after injuring his foot against Leinster at the start of the month, while Oisin Dowling is targeting a return to action for the derby against Munster on New Year’s Day as he recovers from a shoulder issue.

"The good news for T is he didn’t need surgery but he’s progressing through it," said Wilkins.

"He’s got to be patient. Unfortunately, it’s going to be the New Year but we look forward to having him back."

Connacht have also lost two players from the defeat in London; back row Paul Boyle (above) will see a specialist for an eye injury, and wing