Anthony Mullally

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 the rugby league and his transition to a performance coach.

Why Anthony Mullally is vegan

Anthony Mullally is vegan for the animals, the planet and for health.

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.¹The Happy Pear. 2023. The Happy Pear Podcast. Available: https://thehappypear.ie/podcast/episode-136-anthony-mullally/ [Accessed 9 September 2026].

“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 (…) 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.”

“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 that we are not designed to eat meat. I feel evidence is more compelling for a vegan diet.”

Viva! meets Anthony Mullally from Leeds Rhinos