Opel, a proud sponsor of Irish Rugby, has announced the appointment of Mack Hansen and Calvin Nash to its brand ambassador line up. Mack and Calvin, each presented with a new Opel Grandland, join a squad of six talented international women’s rugby players, who already enjoy Opel ambassador titles, including Amee Leigh Murphy Crowe, Stacey Flood, Linda Djougang, Aoife Dalton, Béibhinn Parsons and Aoife Wafer.
The appointments come hot on the heels of a four-year sponsorship renewal announcement from Opel and the Irish Rugby Football Union in late 2024, that will see Opel remain as the exclusive car partner to the IRFU until 2028.
James Brooks, Opel Ireland Managing Director, said: “I am immensely pleased to see yet another facet of our partnership with Irish Rugby come to life. Opel’s support for our women’s players over the last 3 years is clear, and we have delighted in seeing our female ambassadors grow into the international Irish Rugby stars they were destined to become, making history and qualifying for the Olympics in 2024 and the Rugby World Cup in 2025. Our Drive the Passion programme has seen hundreds of Gilbert rugby balls donated to dozens of clubs nationwide.”
He continued: “And now, I warmly welcome two further Irish rugby stars to our fold, in their new ambassador roles. Mack and Calvin’s strength of character, their rugby flair and sheer determination have seen them rise consistently to the very top of their game. I wish them both every success in their Club and International campaigns for 2025.
Mack Hansen, Irish Rugby international, was born in Australia and is eligible to represent Ireland through his Cork-born mother. The winger was first named in the Ireland squad ahead of the 2022 Guinness Six Nations Championships, and he earned a Player of the Match award during his debut game, a 29-7 victory against Wales. Repeated success in the Irish jersey quickly followed for Hansen. Nominated for the 2022 World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year title, he appeared for Ireland consecutively at the 2023 Guinness Six Nations Championship, and the Rugby World Cup in 2023, racking up three further Player of the Match titles. To date in his international playing career, Mack has enjoyed 27 caps for Ireland, recently playing for Ireland against England in the opening game of the 2025 Guinness Men’s Six Nations Championship.
Calvin Nash, originally from Crecora, County Limerick, is an Irish Rugby international and former U20s Ireland Captain. He made his debut for the U20s side, captaining the team to a 27-22 home victory against France during the 2017 Six Nations Under 20 Championship. Calvin was also named in the Ireland U20s squad for the 2017 World Rugby Under 20s Championships. By 2022, he was selected in the Emerging Ireland squad. Calvin earned his first senior international call-up when he was selected in the Ireland squad for the 2022 Autumn Nations Series. He scored a try in the opening game of the 2024 Guinness Six Nations Championship against France. To date in his international playing career, Calvin has enjoyed 9 caps for Ireland, scoring the first try of the game against Scotland in the 2025 Guinness Men’s Six Nations championship.
Opel Ireland and the Irish Rugby Football Union announced a four-year sponsorship renewal in late December 2024. The continued partnership will see Opel remain as a proud sponsor of Irish Rugby and the exclusive car partner to the IRFU until 2028. First signing with Irish Rugby in 2021, Opel provides an extensive fleet of passenger cars and light commercial vehicles to IRFU personnel.
