Connacht doing 'everything possible' to keep Bundee Aki and Mack Hansen, says Pete Wilkins

Pete Wilkins says Connacht will do "everything possible" to ensure that Bundee Aki and Mack Hansen remain with the club.

Ireland cente Aki was linked with a move to Toulon last month but has a contract with the IRFU until 2026, while winger Hansen is out of contract at the end of the season.

New Zealand-born centre Aki is 34 and has been at the club since 2014, making 142 appearances and earning 60 international caps, including one with the Lions.

Hansen joined the Westerners in 2021 and quickly established himself in the Ireland set-up. The 26-year-old Canberra native's brace against Fiji last weekend brought his try tally to 12 in 24 games for Ireland.

Both players have been in Ireland camp since the start of November and will return to Connacht after Saturday's final Autumn Nations Series game against Australia.

Last month, Wilkins said he was confident the Aki situation would have "a good resolution".

"No news from my end and the IRFU with their plus one clause, and there’s no change in that from what we said a month ago," Wilkins said when asked if there was any update.

"Without seeing Bundee face to face he seems pretty happy at the moment and all eyes are focussed on the Irish job."

Asked if fans might be concerned about Hansen’s future with no official word on an extension yet, he said: "No, no reason to be worried at all.

"Again, a bit like the Bundee one, Mack’s settled and they are so important to us, the couple of guys we are talking about, the club would make sure we do everything possible to keep them here as long as possible so no, there are no concerns.

"He seems pretty happy to me and Galway loves him as much as he loves Galway so I hope that continues."

Connacht, fifth in the URC, announced on Monday that