Mack Hansen to face disciplinary hearing over post Leinster match comments

The Ireland wing said Connacht were facing “16 men”, a suggestion of ongoing bias by officials against his province.

DISCIPLINARY HEARING: Connacht's Mack Hansen to face a disciplinary hearing on Wednesday January 8 over his explosive post Leinster match comments. Picture: INPHO/James Crombie

Ireland wing Mack Hansen is set to face an independent disciplinary panel this week to face a misconduct charge following comments he made in the wake of Connacht’s URC derby defeat to Leinster last month.

Hansen had hit out during a post-match press conference at Aviva Stadium following the 20-12 loss on December 21, saying he felt Connacht were facing “16 men”, a suggestion of ongoing bias by officials against his province.

"It's like we get that every time so you can hear the frustration in my voice 'cos it’s starting to get to the point where, honestly, it’s bullshit," Hansen said, his comments leading to investigation by the URC which has now set a hearing for this Wednesday, January 8.

The Ireland wing will face a charge of breaching the URC’s disciplinary rules related to misconduct, with the competition’s description of “misconduct” described as meaning: “any act of Foul Play by a Player and/or any conduct, behaviour, statements (including, without limitation, statements made on social networking platforms or sites such as Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram or similar) or practices by a Club and/or any of its Players … during a Match or otherwise, that is unsporting and/or insulting and/or that brings or has the potential to bring the sport of rugby union, the Championship, other Clubs or Persons, match officials.” 

Hansen had played the following week and scored a try in Connacht’s 7-17 home defeat to Ulster on December 28 with the URC explaining: “As the incident occurred off the field there was no automatic requirement for a disciplinary panel to convene ahead of Connacht’s immediate fixture following the Leinster game.” 

Hansen can expect to be named in the Ireland squad next week for the opening two rounds of the 2025 Guinness Six Nations but his involvement may now hinge on the outcome of this Wednesday’s hearing. Connacht are next in Challenge Cup action, with a home pool game against Lyon in Galway this Saturday followed by a trip to Cardiff seven days later. Ireland kick off their Six Nations campaign on February 1 at home to England.