British & Irish Lions flyer Mack Hansen is set for a special occasion on Wednesday when he trots out against the Brumbies in Canberra.

“It is a bit of a pinch-me moment – not in my wildest dreams could I imagine I would be back here playing for the Lions, so it is very special,” said the 27-year-old.

After making 21 appearances for the Brumbies, Hansen left Canberra in 2021 to sign for Connacht in Ireland, where he would soon make his debut for the Irish national team. Now, a 28-Test winger, he returns to face his former club on one of rugby’s biggest stages.

The fixture brings Hansen face-to-face with familiar opposition, including brothers and close friends Ryan and Lachlan Lonergan, who will be starting at scrumhalf and hooker for the Brumbies.

“I grew up playing against them my whole life – they are two of my best mates. To play against them again will be a nice little switch-up.”

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Wednesday’s match is expected to be the Lions’ toughest challenge on their Australian tour to date. The Brumbies, the strongest of all the Australian provinces in this year’s Super Rugby competition, will host the Lions at GIO Stadium, the same ground where Hansen as a teenager once watched his hometown club defeat the Lions during their 2013 tour.

Hansen will start on the bench, ready to make an impact as a replacement but, while the homecoming is special, Hansen remains focused on his larger goal – earning a spot in the Lions’ Test series, which begins in Brisbane on 19 July.

“It is obviously special to be playing this game, but the ones you want to be putting your name towards are the Tests. That is what I will be focused on.”

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