Ireland and Connacht winger Mack Hansen is under scrutiny after comments made during a post-match press conference following Connacht’s 20-12 defeat to Leinster in the United Rugby Championship (URC).
Hansen is set to appear before an independent disciplinary panel on Wednesday to address whether his remarks constitute misconduct under URC rules.
Following the Round 8 clash at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium on December 19th, Hansen voiced his frustrations over officiating decisions, claiming Connacht consistently faces unfavorable calls.
Speaking alongside Connacht head coach Peter Wilkins, Hansen specifically criticized the lack of action taken after teammate Bundee Aki was subjected to a head collision during the match.
“I feel like we get this every week. We never get any calls, ever. I’ve been feeling this for years now,” Hansen said.
The 26-year-old added, “Bundee gets a direct hit to the head, it’s quite obvious, no call. It’s like we get that every time, so you can hear the frustration in my voice because it’s starting to get to the point where honestly, it’s bullshit and it’s starting to get really frustrating for us.”
The disciplinary panel will determine if Hansen’s statements breach URC’s disciplinary code. The winger could face a ban if found guilty of misconduct, potentially sidelining him during crucial fixtures.
As the comments did not relate to an on-field incident, the disciplinary process was not expedited, allowing Hansen to feature in Connacht’s Round 9 home loss to Ulster on December 28th.