Brumbies return with Lions a ‘pinch-me moment’ – Hansen

British and Irish Lions vs. ACT Brumbies

Date: Wednesday, July 9th, Kick-off: 11:00 BST

In his wildest dreams, Wing Mack Hansen claims he had no idea how he would like to spend time as a British and Irish Lion.

Hansen, whose mother is Irish, left Canberra in 2021 to make his Ireland debut.

However, as a 15-year-old, he was watching his hometown team suffer their first defeat of their 2013 Australian tour.

In a move that will replace the Lions’ most difficult game down under, he will take his place on the bench on Wednesday at the same venue, the city’s GIO Stadium.

It’s incredible, Hansen remarked.

It’s a bit of a pinch-me moment because I don’t think I could ever imagine playing for the Lions again in my wildest dreams.

Hansen will play scrum-half and hooker for the Brumbies and Lachlan Lonergan, his former teammates, brothers, and current friends Ryan and Lachlan Lonergan, respectively.

My entire life I spent playing against them. They are both of my best friends, Hansen said, and it will be nice.

It will be a nice little switch-up to play against them once more after a while of not doing so.

In this year’s Super Rugby competition, the Brumbies were the strongest out of all the Australian provinces, and Lions coach Andy Farrell is rumored to have named something close to his Test 23 despite missing Wallabies like Noah Lolesio, Len Ikitau, and Tom Wright.

Hansen says his top priority is keeping him informed during the Test series, which kicks off in Brisbane on July 19th.

The Tests are what you want to be putting your name in, he said, “but it is obviously special to be playing this game.”

“That is what I will be concentrating on.”

Hansen started the victories over the Waratahs and Western Force, and he made a bench debut in Dublin’s humiliation of Argentina.