Mack Hansen was more interested in world travel than international rugby

Ireland wing Mack Hansen admits he previously had more desire to travel the world than play international rugby as he seeks to cap his first Guinness Six Nations campaign with silverware.

Australia-born Hansen has been recalled for Saturday’s decisive Dublin game against Scotland, with the Irish bidding to clinch the Triple Crown and snatch the championship title.

At the start of the year, the 23-year-old – whose mother hails from Cork – had little expectation of making Andy Farrell’s squad for the tournament.

But, buoyed by a string of standout displays for Connacht and growing self belief, he is delighted to be satisfying his wanderlust while simultaneously making a mark at Test level.

“I’ll be honest with you mate, it wasn’t until maybe last year that it was a huge thing in my mind to play international rugby,” said Hansen, whose Ireland debut came in the opening-weekend win over Wales.

“I always wanted to travel around the world and play in as many countries and teams as I could and just get the most out of footie.

“There was just a bit of a free spirit behind it, I just wanted to see as much as I could.

“But I’ve realised that international footie pretty much does that for you for free. It does take you around many, many places in the world and you just get to do it with a huge group of blokes and it doesn’t get much more fun than that.

“I have loved every second of it. All the lads here are great fellas.”

Hansen last year left Canberra-based club Brumbies to move to Galway before training with the Ireland squad during the autumn.

He is already making rapid progress with his travel bucket list, having ticked off Paris and London in recent weeks.

The former Australia Under-20 international claimed his maiden Test try