Mackenzie Hansen, born on March 27, 1998, is a professional rugby union player who plays as a wing for the Connacht club in the United Rugby Championship. Although born in Australia, he represents Ireland at the international level due to his Irish ancestry.
Hansen started his professional career playing for the Brumbies in Super Rugby. He later signed a two-year deal with Connacht ahead of the 2021–22 season, making the move to Ireland to further his rugby career.
Despite being born in Australia, Hansen is eligible to represent Ireland through his Cork-born mother. He previously appeared for Australia at the 2018 World Rugby Under 20 Championship. In January 2022, he was included in the Ireland squad for the 2022 Six Nations Championship by head coach Andy Farrell.
Hansen made an impressive debut for Ireland, starting in their opening match against Wales on February 5, 2022. He played a key role in Ireland's 29–7 victory and was awarded the player of the match accolade for his performance. His standout performances earned him a nomination for the 2022 World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year.
He was called up to the Ireland squad again for the 2023 Six Nations Championship and made a significant impact in round 3, helping secure a 34–20 victory over Italy with two tries, earning another player of the match performance. In round 4, he scored another try and secured his third player-of-the-match performance in eight Six Nations matches in Ireland's 7–22 win over Scotland.
Before his international career, Hansen was a talented player in Canberra, Australia. He played for Daramalan College and led his team to an undefeated regular season and a Grand Final berth in 2016. He represented the ACT Schoolboys and the Australian Schools Barbarians, showcasing his skills as a utility back.
Hansen made his Super Rugby debut for the Brumbies in 2019 against the Waratahs. He continued to impress locally, contributing to the Gungahlin Eagles' strong performance in the John I Dent Cup and making appearances for the Brumbies Runners. In September 2020, he signed a new deal with the Brumbies before ultimately joining Connacht in April 2021.
In November 2021, he was included in the Ireland squad for the Autumn Nations Series, further solidifying his presence in the national team setup.
Ahead of the Rugby World Cup 2023, Hansen has been named in the squad for Ireland.
KG(30/06/2023)
Career
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Connacht Rugby Fullback |
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Ireland Fullback |
2021 - present |
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Ireland A Fullback |
2022 - present |
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Australia U20's Fly Half |
2018 - 2019 |
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Canberra Vikings Fly Half |
2017 - 2019 |
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ACT Brumbies Fullback |
2017 - 2021 |
