‘There are some bad people out there’ – Mack Hansen’s thoughts and prayers with Sydney stabbing victims
Connacht's Mack Hansen on the tragic events in his native Australia: 'I'm thankful I don’t know anyone directly affected by it.' Photo: Sportsfile
Connacht and Ireland winger Mack Hansen says his thoughts and prayers are with the six people who were stabbed to death in a Sydney shopping centre last week.
Hansen, who grew up in Canberra, was just as shocked as everyone else to hear about the horrific events that occurred back home.
“It’s mad, it’s crazy to think I know a lot of people who live around there as well,” Hansen (26) said. “When you see stuff like that anywhere around the world, it’s horrific, it’s awful, and there’s no place for it in the world, is there? Hopefully that’s the last sort of thing like that that happens for a while.
“Unfortunately there’s just some bad people out in the world but yeah, prayers and thoughts go out to everyone over there who has been affected by it, for sure. It’s just nuts. That stuff just doesn’t really happen there.
“I think the last time something like that happened was the Sydney Siege (2014)… everything happens in Sydney. It was a good while ago and besides that there has been a little one-off thing here and there but nothing to this extent, so I don’t think it’s going to be a recurring thing.
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“I’m thankful I don’t know anyone directly affected by it. You send messages, asking what was going on and how everyone is and everyone I know is fine which is a blessing.”
Hansen, who is nearing a return from a dislocated shoulder, gave his thoughts on Leinster signing All Black Jordie Barrett, as well as the IRFU’s central contracting system.
“Look, my thinking on it is, if you’ve got the cash and can, why wouldn’t you,” he maintained. “If we (Connacht) could, we’d sign him but we can’t unfortunately. I know there is a little of a stink people are kicking up with Sheeno (Dan Sheehan) going onto a central but he’s earned that central contract. It’s not like they’re just giving it to him because he’s a good bloke or anything like that. He’s a s**t bloke! He’s come through the Leinster pathways and he’s the best hooker in the world at the moment so it was just a matter of time before he was on one.
“They had to work out a way to free up space to make those signings. It’s just the way it is. If you can do that, you want to get the best and strongest squad possible. No one’s got a real problem with the French teams doing it, I don’t know why everyone is blowing up about an Irish team.”
Hansen isn’t holding out hope of getting a central contract: “I wish! I don’t know if there is any going for any wingers. We’ll wait and see,” he added. “It’s easy to complain but which one of the guys that are on central contracts would you take off? I wouldn’t take any of them off. Everyone who has them has earned them and deserves them.
“So many guys stay because it just makes more sense. That’s the only way Irish rugby is going to get stronger and stronger, if you keep going. I don’t have a problem with the way anything is set up. I think it’s set up in a genius way.”
