Mack Hansen, the mercurial Australian star who tormented the Wallabies, is to miss the Six Nations and the rest of the season with a foot injury -- but a host of his compatriots are set to feature in Europe's rugby championship.
As the teams started unveiling their squads for the championship which begins at the start of next month, the absence of Canberra-born Hansen among the Ireland line-up had been expected because he had undergone surgery on his troublesome foot only last month.
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But in another blow for the 27-year-old, who had been so brilliant when scoring a first-half hat-trick against Australia in their November Test in Dublin, Connacht coach Stuart Lancaster has confirmed the flying winger/fullback will almost certainly miss the rest of the season as he recovers.
It's been a recurring problem for Hansen, who had to cut short his British & Lions tour to Australia because of the injury, which also flared up again in Ireland's Test with South Africa.
Connacht have set the European Challenge Cup final in May as a potential return for Hansen, but Lancaster told reporters: "It will be tight. It will be a struggle."
Hansen's Canberra teammate Finlay Bealham is in the Ireland squad, but he's suffering from a knee injury, still hoping to be ready for the opening match against France in Paris on February 5.
The Irish have a whole host of injury woes, with Robbie Henshaw announced on Wednesday as missing the Paris opener.
He'll be among 10 possible starters ruled out. That's bad news for a trip to the Stade de France where fit-again Antoine Dupont, the world's top player, is set to be unleashed again by coach Fabien Galthie, who's named him while, surprisingly, leaving Damian Penaud, Gregory Alldritt and Gael Fickou out the squad.
Instead, former NSW Waratahs and ACT Brumbies lock Tom Staniforth has been called into the squad.
Scotland's bid for their first title after a 27-year wait will be led by their inspirational Melburnian-born captain, centre Sione Tuipulotu, with back-row forward Jack Dempsey, the former Wallaby, also named in the squad.
They could be facing two other players with an Australian background when they play Italy in Rome, with Louis Lynagh, the son of Wallabies legend Michael Lynagh, and Melburnian Monty Ioane posing danger on either wing.
Meanwhile, former England captain Jamie George has announced he'll retire from rugby at the end of the 2026-27 season.
The 35-year-old hooker, who's signed a one-year contract extension with his lifelong club Saracens, has made 105 appearances for his country, winning three Six Nations titles, reaching the World Cup final in 2019 and making three British & Irish Lions tours.
