Hansen: Ireland move was the best decision of my life

In an alternate world, Mack Hansen could very well be preparing to play against Ireland this week, rather than for them.

"The one that got away", according to his former Brumbies coach Dan McKellar, who is now forwards coach with the Wallabies, Hansen looks set to line out against the country of his birth this Saturday when the sides meet at the Aviva Stadium.

By now, Hansen's story has been well told, the potted history being that the Irish-qualified wing was plucked from Australia by Andy Friend at Connacht, after a recommendation from Friend's son, who worked at a Canberra bar where Hansen would often frequent.

The Connacht boss confirmed yesterday that he'd be stepping down at the end of the season, following five years in charge of the western province.

And Hansen says he owes a lot of his recent success to his fellow Canberra native.

"He took a good gamble on me," Hansen says.

"When he first got onto me, I wasn't playing too much. I think he just... I guess Connacht just give blokes a crack, and hope they can kick on.

"I'm going to miss Andy and [his wife] Kerri a load but he'll be leaving Connacht in a good place anyway.

"It's definitely time for him to go home, as much as I've talked to him, his kids are starting to have kids and all that, so it's time for him to settle down and be a grandpa back home."

Since arriving in Galway last summer, Hansen's career has taken off. Already a cult-hero at Connacht, he's made an instant impact on the Test scene, with eight caps since making his debut in the 2022 Six Nations, scoring three tries, two of which have come in his last two games.

Alongside Dan Sheehan, he's nominated for World Rugby's Breakthrough Player of the Year award, and will cap off a dream 2022 when he comes up