Connacht's Mack Hansen back in 'full training' ahead of URC season

Ireland wing Mack Hansen is in "full training" and on course to return to action during Connacht's pre-season schedule.

The 26-year-old Australian missed out on the second half of last season, including the Six Nations, and Ireland’s drawn tour of South Africa with a shoulder injury.

Connacht had hoped that he would recover in time to play some role but the former Brumbies man remained sidelined with a shoulder injury picked up at the start of January.

He is unlikely to feature in Saturday’s friendly against Sale Sharks in Galway but trips to Glasgow and Bristol ahead of their round one clash with Munster in Thomond Park on 21 September will present an opportunity for Hansen.

"Mack is in full training, he has done a full pre-season with us," head coach Pete Wilkins said on Wednesday morning.

"We are happy with how he is tracking but we probably won’t use him against Sale.

"I don’t think that’s necessary at this point, but we’ll keep ramping him up, and he’ll definitely get pre-season minutes with a view to being ready for round one.

"He is tracking nicely, but we most likely won’t use him this weekend."

Fellow Ireland internationals Bundee Aki and Finlay Bealham (above), who both went on the summer tour, are not expected to see any action until the start of October.

"They are just back, they have done a conditioning week," added Wilkins, whose side finished outside the play-off places last season and missed out on Champions Cup qualification.

"They had a delayed summer break after their return from the South Africa tour. They are into some running and fitness, and Finlay will start to integrate into rugby at the back end of this week, Bundee from the start of next week.

"Most of those guys who had a large chunk of minutes over the