Assistant coach Mike Catt categorically denied Mack Hansen’s shock omission for Ireland’s Rugby World Cup opener against Romania is down to an internal disciplinary issue.
Australia-born wing Hansen has been among Ireland’s standout players amid their current 13-match winning run but was the only first-team regular left out of Saturday’s Pool B clash in Bordeaux.
Head coach Andy Farrell confirmed the 25-year-old is not injured when announcing his team on Thursday.
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The Englishman then volunteered information about some members of his squad succumbing to off-field distractions when the team were based in Biarritz for their final warm-up game against Samoa in nearby Bayonne.
“The reason we went there is that there’s a lot of distraction that goes on, certainly when you’re in a hotel that’s on the beach,” Farrell said in answering a routine question about newer members of his squad not having World Cup baggage.
“Some people handled that brilliantly, some people didn’t.”
Farrell’s cryptic admission fuelled speculation in the wake of Hansen’s surprise non-selection.
Yet Catt insisted the Connacht player has not breached team rules.
“Good question really, it’s a long tournament first and foremost and it’s making sure that we look after everybody,” Catt replied when asked why Hansen has been left out.
“In the same breath there is good competition in that area too. There is nothing that Mack has done wrong. It’s not that he’s performed badly at all.
“He’s done exceptionally well in his pre-season games and like we say, it’s a long competition and we need to keep people fresh too.”
Ireland’s strong selection is missing just three of arguably Farrell’s preferred starting XV: injured hooker Dan Sheehan, flanker Josh van der Flier, who is on the bench, and Hansen.
Hansen, who recently had Farrell’s face tattooed on his leg as part of a pact with captain Johnny Sexton, has only sat out three Test matches since his debut in the 2022 Six Nations.
One of those fixtures was the first Test against New Zealand last year when he had Covid-19, while another was last month’s warm-up match with Italy, when most of Ireland’s star names were given the weekend off.
Questioned directly on whether the selection decision was due to a disciplinary matter, Catt replied: “Not at all, no.”
Centre Bundee Aki, who was sitting next to Catt, joked that Hansen’s absence was performance-related, saying: “He was useless.”
Owen Farrell set for first Saracens appearance since announcing Test break
Owen Farrell will make his first appearance since his decision to step away from Test rugby was announced when Saracens launch their Investec Champions Cup campaign on Saturday.
England captain Farrell will be unavailable for the Six Nations later this season after choosing to take a break from the international game to prioritise his and his family’s mental well-being.
He then missed Saracens’ Gallagher Premiership defeat against Northampton due to a knee problem.
But Saracens rugby director Mark McCall has confirmed the 32-year-old fly-half will face leading South African challengers the Bulls in Pretoria.
“He’s available and he is going to play this weekend,” McCall said. “He has trained fully over the last two days.
“He has enjoyed being with his team-mates, and it is a great opportunity for us all to spend a bit of time together away from the British winter.
“I don’t know how many European Cup games he has played – him and Alex Goode have probably played in more than anybody at the club.
“He is our captain, he is our leader, someone who is respected by everyone at the club. To have him on the field, of course, is an enormous benefit.
“Not just to have him on the field, but have him in the team-room, in the meetings… His contribution is so enormous and it is great to have him here with us.”
Three-time European champions Saracens have won the tournament more than any other English club, although they made a quarter-final exit last term to eventual winners La Rochelle.
And they will tackle a Bulls side currently third in the United Rugby Championship, having won five out of seven league fixtures this season.
McCall added: “We have been really impressed with what we have seen, especially in their last couple of home games. They are strong in all areas.
“Games don’t get much tougher in round one than coming to the Bulls, especially with the run of form they are on, but it is a challenge which usually brings the best out of the group we have got.
“We’ve had a good relationship with this competition for a very long period of time. It has felt really good on the training field from the moment we touched down here.”
Top rugby player Api Ratuniyarawa facing jail after admitting sexual offences
Top rugby player Api Ratuniyarawa is facing jail after admitting a series of sexual offences committed days before he was due to play for the Barbarians.
The 37-year-old Fiji international appeared before Cardiff Crown Court and pleaded guilty to two charges of assault by penetration and one charge of sexual assault.
The lock had been due to be on the bench for the Barbarians against Wales at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on November 4.
The offences were committed against three women and took place between October 31 and November 2 this year, the court heard.
Ratuniyarawa, of The Orchard, Kislingbury, Northamptonshire, denied two further charges of sexual assault relating to one of the three women.
Prosecutors said the pleas were acceptable to the Crown and invited the court to fix a date for sentencing.
The father-of-four, who has also played for Northampton Saints and in France, has been without a club since Premiership club London Irish went into receivership in the summer, the court heard.
He was hoping his appearance for the Barbarians invitational side would lead to winning a new playing contract but has since been forced to apply for benefits.
Ruth Smith, defending, asked for the defendant to be released on bail and for a pre-sentence report to be prepared.
“The defendant has been on conditional bail, and he is aware of the significance of his pleas and the type of sentence that flows from such pleas,” she said.
“He has been on very stringent conditions, and these are matters (that) arose out of primarily the consumption of alcohol.
“He is someone who has very fixed ties to the UK and has played rugby here for a significant number of years.
“His wife and four young children are resident here and have their own right to remain here and two of his children were born in the UK. He is not a flight risk.
“There are significant matters he needs to put in place for his family, not least to change the tenancy of their house over to his wife’s name as well as gather mitigation materials.
“The defendant is the sole breadwinner for the family. He was recently employed by London Irish who in fact unfortunately collapsed in May 2023 and was present in Cardiff to play in a Barbarians game.
“It was hoped a contract might flow from that, that of course because of these events, did not happen.
“Because of that, he has had to apply for benefits for his family. Again, those are not absolutely in place. He has various appointments in place in respect of securing financial stability for his family.”
Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke, The Recorder of Cardiff, released Ratuniyarawa on conditional bail.
This includes residing at his home address, abiding by an overnight curfew, reporting daily to his local police station, surrendering his passport, not entering any licenced premises and only travelling to Wales for appointments.
“Now you have pleaded guilty to these offences the case will be adjourned until January 9 next year for sentence,” she said.
“I am going to order a pre-sentence report but you should read nothing into that, neither should you read anything into the fact that I am going to release you on conditional bail.”
Ratuniyarawa was also placed on the sexual offenders’ register.
Kevin Sinfield greeted by Sir Gareth Edwards after latest fundraising challenge
Kevin Sinfield was greeted by Welsh rugby union great Sir Gareth Edwards as he completed the latest of seven back-to-back ultra marathons in aid of research and support for those living with Motor Neurone Disease in Cardiff.
Sinfield was greeted by Edwards on the pitch at Cardiff Arms Park during half-time in the United Rugby Championship match against Scarlets, which the visitors won 29-23.
Afterwards Sinfield, whose latest fund-raising feat ticked over the quarter of a million pound mark in the course of its second day, hailed his welcome in the Welsh capital as one of the best he has experienced.
Speaking to members of the Cardiff squad, Sinfield said: “Over the last few years we’ve been to some pretty special places and we’ve run in some pretty amazing cities, but the welcome the team has had today in Cardiff has been as good as anywhere.
“Don’t under-estimate the friends you have in here, the bonds that you get playing rugby of either code is something that not many sports give you.
“Win or lose, there will come a point where you can’t play any more for whatever reason. You look after each other when you cross the line, and for the rest of your lives you need to look after each other as well.”
Sinfield’s fourth fundraising challenge takes him on to Birmingham on Sunday, beginning at Alexander Stadium and calling at St Andrews, Villa Park and Edgbaston before concluding in Centenary Square on Sunday afternoon.
He will then move on to undertake routes around Edinburgh, Dublin and Brighton, before concluding with a route that takes him up The Mall in London next week.
Since starting his ultra-marathon quest in 2020, the 43-year-old has raised over £8million to help fund research and help those with the disease, and he has vowed he will continue to undertake his marathon quest until a cure can be found.
:: To donate to Kevin Sinfield’s 7 in 7 in 7 quest, see https://donate.giveasyoulive.com/fundraising/kevin-sinfield
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