When Ireland faces off against the Springboks on November 21 in Dublin, they'll have wing Mack Hansen, now equipped with what he dubs a "brand new foot." At 28, the Australian has recovered just in time for the Nations Championship after a tough season ended prematurely due to a severe foot injury, leading to innovative surgery.
The ordeal started during the British & Irish Lions' 2025 tour match against the AUNZ Invitational XV, sidelining him from subsequent Tests. Despite an initial scan suggesting minor ligament damage, Hansen faced repeated setbacks, culminating in a dire third injury against the Springboks last year.
"When the foot went for a third time, we sent the scans off to James in London," Hansen told The Times. "I’d done a few ligaments, but he saw that a couple of joints in there were out of whack and thought it was likely to keep happening unless we went for surgery."
Following the advice of London-based orthopaedic surgeon James Calder, Hansen underwent a procedure involving bone fusion, complete with six screws and a metal plate. This "bionic foot", as Hansen playfully calls it, is part of his hope to maybe even enhance his kicking game.
"I had a bone fusion and I’ve now got six screws and a metal plate in there. It’s basically a bionic foot, I’m hoping it might add a few metres to my kicking game. Having said that, I’ve got some metal in my shoulder and that doesn’t seem to have made my tackling any better."
The recovery was no less challenging than the surgery itself. Hansen had to relearn walking and running, adapting to his reconstructed foot's new mechanics.
"Essentially, it’s a brand new foot, so everything felt different. Walking was the weirdest bit, I just hadn’t done it for so long, and then it was getting back to the normality of running," explained Hansen. He noted that adjustments to his running style were minor but necessary.
Thankfully, Hansen's recovery aligns perfectly with the upcoming games in Ireland’s home leg of the Nations Championship, where they will also play against Argentina on November 6 and Fiji on November 14. His presence on the field is expected to boost Ireland's strategic options against the formidable Springboks.
Hansen’s return is not just a personal victory but a boost for the entire team, demonstrating resilience and perhaps introducing a new kicking prowess to the squad. Rugby fans eagerly await to see how his "bionic foot" performs under the pressures of international competition.
