Green or gold: ACT Brumbies junior and Connacht star Mack Hansen split on Ireland and Wallabies

He sidestepped his way around a Canberra backyard dreaming of wearing Wallaby gold. He followed the footsteps of his idol Stephen Larkham to the ACT Brumbies.

But now the rising rugby star calls the Galway Sportsground home - and he could soon find himself at the centre of an international tug-of-war between Australia and Ireland.

The 23-year-old qualifies for Ireland through his Cork-born mother, and was drafted into the Irish Test squad five games into a two-year stint with Connacht in the United Rugby Championship.

Hansen tells The Canberra Times there is a genuine temptation to chase a Test berth with Ireland on the road to the 2023 World Cup, a decision that could make the ex-Brumby the one who got away from Australian rugby.

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So what if Wallabies coach Dave Rennie gave him a call to fill a spot in Australia's ranks on a Spring Tour which continues in Scotland this week?

"Mate, I've got no real clue," Hansen said.

"It would be a tough decision, picking Ireland would mean I'd be here for at least the next 10 or so years of my life, away from home, away from everything. That's something I'd have to take into consideration, but in saying that, they've put a lot of faith in me so far and they've just given me a shot. It would be hard not to repay them if the opportunity came up.

"If the Wallabies gave me a call, I don't know, I wouldn't want to just go into camp for two weeks and then they head home and that's about it. If that call came, I would have to have a chat to a few people and talk to Dave and all of those guys about what they're thinking for my future, instead of just a one-off thing."

Hansen sliced through defensive lines to score four tries in five games for Connacht, among them a try of the year contender. He led the competition in defenders beaten and metres gained, but his sudden elevation to the Irish Test squad still turned heads on both sides of the globe.

Months ago Hansen had struggled to lock down a consistent place in the Brumbies' starting XV despite a career-best year, stuck behind Wallabies squad members Tom Wright and Andy Muirhead in Canberra.

Now Ireland coach Andy Farrell has come knocking for the versatile ex-junior Wallaby, and Hansen was brought into camp leading into Tests against Japan, New Zealand and Argentina.

"That call was a major shock, I didn't actually know it was Andy Farrell at first. Once I kind of put two and two together that it was him, it probably rattled me a little bit more," Hansen said.

"It was super tough to leave Brumbies. I'd been there straight out of school. It was tough to leave and to get out of something so comfortable, but I kind of felt like I was stuck in a bit of a rut there and couldn't cement a starting spot.

"For my career, I thought this was the best opportunity. [Connacht coach Andy Friend] gave me a call, about a week later I'd pretty much committed and I was getting ready for life over here."

So the Brumbies had lost a club junior. Australian rugby had lost one of its most promising talents. But Wallabies great Tim Horan says the reality is, "you can't keep them all".

"I remember watching him, it must have been at least five years ago. He had the headgear and he reminded me of Steve Larkham," Horan said.

"I thought 'who is this kid?' He looks exactly like Steve Larkham and runs like Steve Larkham. He was pretty light then, I think he was still at school, and I thought 'if he puts on a little weight, he could be anything'.

"Is it another one we've let go? You can't keep them all, that's the hard thing. For guys like Mack, to be able to go and play in another competition, get the culture of Ireland, that's an incredible experience.

"Who knows, if he ends up playing a Test match he could end up staying there for another 10 years. Once you play a Test match, there's no point coming back to Australia, you'd have to lock and load. That's your future, which is a great opportunity. Imagine playing in the northern hemisphere, at a full Lansdowne Road."

Hansen is still in a state of shock. Once Canberra's most "terrible" electrician, now he's got a glimpse into life as a Test footballer and Mack Hansen fan accounts are emerging on social media.

A return home will "always be in the back of my head", but the lure of playing for Ireland burns brightly.

"It would be amazing [to play for Ireland], it would just be everything I've worked towards coming together. To reach the highest point of professional footy would be so special," Hansen said.

"I don't think mum would ever say it, but I think she would be happy if I picked to play for Ireland over Australia. She's so chuffed that I'm doing well over here, and it just gives her another excuse to come back and visit her old home."

And of course, their family in the Emerald Isle.

"I've got loads of family here that I just didn't even know about. I met up with one of my cousins the other day and he was a great fella," Hansen said.

"I'm getting new messages each week with people telling me they're my cousin, so who actually knows? I'm sure there's ties somewhere. Plenty of cousins are going to be coming out of the woodwork, that's for sure."

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