RUGBY UNION
Injured Mack Hansen to miss Ireland’s defence of Six Nations title
Influential wing expected to be out for more than three months after having surgery on his right shoulder, which he dislocated playing for Connacht a week ago
Hansen started all five matches and scored three tries as Ireland completed the Six Nations grand slam last year
DANILO DI GIOVANNI/GETTY IMAGES
Ireland’s defence of the Six Nations title they won last year has suffered a blow as Mack Hansen, the influential wing, has been ruled out of this year’s tournament with a shoulder injury.
Hansen, 25, has had surgery after dislocating his right shoulder playing for Connacht against Munster a week ago and is now expected to be out of action for more than three months.
One of the players who might have replaced Hansen, Jimmy O’Brien, of Leinster, will also be sidelined for a number of months with a neck injury. The 27-year-old came off the bench for Hansen during the second half of Ireland’s World Cup quarter-final defeat to New Zealand in Paris in October.
Hansen has made a considerable impression on the wing
