Anthony Mullally

Photo credit: Leeds Rhinos

Anthony Mullally is an Ireland international rugby league prop who is widely known as “The Vegan Warrior”.

During his career, he played for Widnes Vikings, Huddersfield Giants and Leeds Rhinos, and was part of Leeds’ 2017 Super League Grand Final winning squad. He also spent time with Toronto Wolfpack and AS Carcassonne, before signing for Cornwall RLFC. In July 2022, Mullally announced his retirement from rugby league.

Standing 6 ft 5 in (196 cm) and listed at 111 kg, he is a powerful example that plant-based eating can support strength and elite performance. Mullally has spoken about switching to a plant-based diet for a combination of reasons, including his health, the animals and the environment, and said it did not affect his performance on the pitch.

When he is not working in sport, Mullally co-founded Both Sides Retreats, creating spaces that encourage men to step outside their comfort zone and explore masculinity, connection and personal growth through practices including breathwork and mindfulness.

VL65 coverIn 2017, Tony Wardle interviewed Anthony MUllally for Viva!life.

“I’ve always cared about animals but like a lot of people I didn’t really want to know what was going on behind the scenes. My sister got me to watch some videos by the animals rights campaigner Gary Yourofsky – and that disturbed me. You can pretend everything’s okay when you don’t know the reality but you can’t unlearn the truth. Once you’ve seen it, once you know it, it’s with you forever.

It was his claim that we humans are not carnivores but plnat eaters – herbivores. It was a complete eye opener so I did a lot of research on similar  theories comparing our anatomy with meat eaters and plat eaters and I was convinced.”

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“Now I look back I can’t believe I ever ate meat… I read up about physiology and anatomy and the more I looked into it, the more I personally came to the decision we are not designed to eat meat. I feel evidence is more compelling for a vegan diet.”

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