Nations Championship squads: Hansen in for Ireland, Italy's Menoncello ruled out

Wed, Oct 21, 2026, 9:36 PM
AW
by AFP and Staff Writer

Mack Hansen has been recalled to Ireland's squad for next month's Nations Championship fixtures after almost a year of injury-enforced exile from international rugby union.

The 28-year-old Australia-born wing is one of three experienced players returning after lengthy lay-offs, with back-five forward Ryan Baird and loose-head prop Andrew Porter also included in a 36-strong group announced by coach Andy Farrell on Wednesday.

Watch every second of the 2026 Nations Championship live and on demand via Stan Sport.

The trio last played for Ireland in the concluding game of last year's November series against South Africa at Dublin's Lansdowne Road.

Hansen required foot surgery, ruling him out for the rest of the season, but has since returned to action with provincial side Connacht.

Baird, 27, has recovered from a leg fracture while 30-year-old Porter was sidelined with calf problems.

Injuries among Ireland's loose forwards have led to a call-up for uncapped Ulster back-row James McNabney, while Jamison Gibson-Park has been included, even though the veteran scrum-half has yet to play for Leinster this season due to a groin strain.

Ireland captain Caelan Doris remains unavailable as he recovers from knee and foot injuries, with hooker Dan Sheehan skippering the side.

Meanwhile, Italy centre Tommaso Menoncello will miss next month's Nations Championship after being omitted from the squad due to a shoulder injury, the Italian Rugby Federation (FIR) announced on Wednesday.

Menoncello, 24, played just six minutes of Toulouse's Champions Cup win over Exeter on Sunday before being forced off through injury.

Azzurri head coach Gonzalo Quesada will also be without scrum-half Martin Page-Relo, back-rower Sebastian Negri and Zebre full-back Lorenzo Pani for the games against South Africa, Argentina and Fiji.

The competition concludes the weekend of November 27-29 with a series of games to determine the final standings.

"We know that major challenges await us this year, starting with the injuries to several players who are very important for our team," ex-Argentina fly-half Quesada said in an FIR statement.

"But one year out from the Rugby World Cup, I also see these difficulties as a great opportunity to give playing time to some young players who represent the future of the national team.

"And, above all, to test our character by facing, for four consecutive weeks, four of the best teams in the world."

Ireland squad

Backs: Bundee Aki, Robert Baloucoune, Jamie Benson, Craig Casey, Nathan Doak, Ciaran Frawley, Jamison Gibson-Park, Mack Hansen, Robbie Henshaw, Hugo Keenan, Stuart McCloskey, Jimmy O'Brien, Tommy O'Brien, Jamie Osborne, Sam Prendergast, Garry Ringrose, Jacob Stockdale

Forwards: Ryan Baird, Tadhg Beirne, Billy Bohan, Thomas Clarkson, Tadhg Furlong, Sam Illo, Sean Jansen, Ronan Kelleher, Joe McCarthy, James McNabney, Darragh Murray, Tom O'Toole, Andrew Porter, Cian Prendergast, James Ryan, Dan Sheehan (capt), Tom Stewart, Nick Timoney, Josh van der Flier

Italy squad

Backs: Tommaso Allan, Mirko Belloni, Juan Ignacio Brex, Ange Capuozzo, Alessandro Fusco, Matt Gallagher, Alessandro Garbisi, Paolo ⁠Garbisi, Monty Ioane, Louis Lynagh, Leonardo Marin, Damiano Mazza, Giovanni Montemauri, Federico Mori, Paolo Odogwu, Stephen Varney

Forwards: Niccolo Cannone, Lorenzo Cannone, Tommaso Di Bartolomeo, Simone Ferrari, Danilo Fischetti, Muhamed Hasa, ⁠Michele Lamaro, Samuele Locatelli, Gianmarco Lucchesi, Mattia Midena, Giacomo ​Nicotera, Enoch Opoku Gyamfi, Alessandro ‌Ortombina, Marco Riccioni, Federico Ruzza, ​Mirco Spagnolo, Ross Vintcent, Manuel Zuliani

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Photo: Julio Aguilar
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