When Mack Hansen let rip rather colourfully after Connacht’s URC defeat by Leinster last month, claiming that his province is consistently on the wrong side of officials’ decisions and has been for years, there was always a chance that the powers-that-be would want a word. And so it’s proved – he will face an independent disciplinary panel tomorrow.
But are such complaints new? Certainly not. Gerry Thornley dusts down a 17-year-old article in which Matt Williams is quoted as saying “there was a form of ‘institutionalised racism’ against Connacht within Irish rugby”. Not, mind you, literal racism, “more that there was a subconscious bias against the province which it had endured pretty much since the foundation of Irish rugby”.
Owen Doyle is more concerned, though, about the impact on the game’s officials of such criticism. “A Stephen Ferris comment referencing Hansen’s recent diatribe, opined that it was ‘really refreshing for a player to come out and absolutely go to town on the referee’. Open season then, I suppose?”
Hopefully when the Champions Cup returns at the weekend, the focus will be more on the actual rugby than the officiating. Among the tastier offerings is the meeting of old pals La Rochelle and Leinster at Stade Marcel Deflandre, in a reprise of the competition’s 2022 and 2023 finals. Gerry looks ahead to that and the rest of the fixtures.
In Gaelic games, Gordon Manning has news of Naas performing a U-turn on their initial decision to include Rory Gallagher in their management team for 2025, the word being that GAA President Jarlath Burns made contact with the club “outlining concerns over the proposed appointment”.
In football, Gavin Cummiskey updates us on the latest chapter in Robbie Keane’s coaching career after he was appointed manager of Hungarian champions Ferencváros on Monday, seven months after stepping down from his job with Maccabi Tel Aviv.
And in golf, Philip Reid has yet more evidence of Tiger Woods’ lofty status in the sport, despite him not playing a great deal of late. He topped 2024′s PGA Tour’s Player Impact Program, which is based on “internet searches, TV sponsor exposure, general population awareness and golf fan awareness” – even though he only played in five tournaments. Scottie Scheffler, who won nine times (including Olympic gold) in 2024, had to settle for second and a miserly $8 million.
TV Watch: Arsenal meet Newcastle in the semi-finals of the League Cup at 8.0 (ITV and Sky Sports Football), and if you’re still awake at two in the morning you can tune in to the first ever TGL match (Sky Sports Golf), ie the newfangled ‘tech-infused’ indoor golf league thingie. New York Golf Club take on The Bay Golf Club, Shane Lowry one of the latter’s four-man team.
- Listen and subscribe to our Counter Ruck rugby podcast
- Sign up for push alerts and have the best news, analysis and comment delivered directly to your phone
- Find The Irish Times on WhatsApp and stay up to date
- Sign up for Sport push alerts and have the best news, analysis and comment delivered directly to your phone
