Ireland winger Mack Hansen stayed true to form as he had the rugby world in stitches following his British and Irish Lions call-up. The Connacht star was one of 38 named by head coach Andy Farrell for the tour to his native Australia this summer. In a new twist many are undoubtedly hoping will become Lions tradition, certain selectees were called up for their immediate response to the news on Sunday. It's nothing new to see players get emotional upon receiving the news they've made the cut, but a selection of live video calls from the O2 Arena was a welcome addition to the experience. And Hansen was hardly prepared for the occasion after he picked up the phone while down the beach in his resident Galway. But it soon became clear Mack wasn't supposed to be the other one on the end of the line at all. That's after he revealed club and country team-mate Bundee Aki was scheduled to do the honours. However, parenting duties allegedly got in the way. "This has been sprung on me. Bundee was meant to do it but he's minding the kids," said the 27-year-old, who was born and raised in Canberra before moving to Ireland in 2021. Cue a roar of laughter from the crowd in attendance at the announcement event in London. On top of his comment, Hansen also made spectators laugh when he adjusted his mobile's camera, only to end up plastered sideways across the 30-foot screen at the O2. Comedy just comes naturally to some. The former Brumbies prospect was visibly struggling to put together his feelings after the monumental news. And after admitting as much, the jokester said head coach Farrell would be pleased to see him - for once - short of things to say. "I was just heading for a swim," said Hansen as he appeared on-screen. "I’m lost for words for the first time in my life I’d say, which is good for Faz to hear. It’s an incredible…. I don’t know what to say, honestly." Farrell, 49, joked it was "the other coaches" who gave Hansen the nod rather than him playing favourites. However, it stands to reason that the pair should share a special connection. Both are foreign-born talents honing their craft in Ireland, with Farrell responsible for handing Hansen his route into his adopted team. He even has a tattoo of the tactician's face on his leg after losing a bet with Johnny Sexton that Ireland wouldn't win the Grand Slam in 2023. A total of 15 Ireland representatives will make the trip Down Under come June, with England the second-most selected outfit with 13 tourists. Those numbers would have looked slightly different had Leinster back-rower Caelan Doris - who was slated to captain the squad - not suffered a long-term injury on the eve of the squad announcement. Hansen has scored 12 tries in 28 caps for Ireland to date, the most recent of which came in the shape of a brace against Fiji during the Autumn Nations series. He made three appearances during the 2025 Six Nations but failed to cross the whitewash as Ireland fell short in defending their title. There was some consternation about Hansen's selection, with some suggesting Scotland's Darcy Graham or England winger Immanuel Feyi-Waboso were more deserving. However, Hansen is sure to offer value in his homeland, not to mention no small amount of banter.