Vegan Mulls it all over
® ANTHONY MULLALLY has undergone a conversion – and it’s nothing to do with trying to become an unlikely goal kicker.
And the 6ft 5in Leeds forward, who weighs in at 18st, says his lifestyle change is giving his Rhinos team-mates food for thought.
The giant Irish international is one of rugby league’s few vegans.
While the Headingley chefs serve up meat and dairy products for Brian McDermott’s men, Mullally, 25, is content with nuts, fruit and grain.
He has missed only two games this season and will be in the thick of the action tonight when Leeds entertain Leigh.
“It was around two and a half years ago that I stopped eating meat,” said Mullally.
“There is a bit of a stigma around being vegetarian.
“I wasn’t that well versed in all the research and it was a genuine concern that going off meat could impact my rugby and how I prepare myself physically for training and games.
“I just started eating chicken and then just fish. Eventually I decided to go vegetarian and now I have decided to become vegan.
“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 deigned to eat meat.
“As you would expect in a group, everyone has a bit of a laugh about it. But we have got a smart group who are always looking for an edge to their game.”