Karl Mullen
Ireland
player portrait
Full name Karl Daniel Mullen
Born November 26, 1926, Courtown Harbour
Died April 26, 2009, Kilcullen, Kildare (aged 82 years 151 days)
Major teams British and Irish Lions, Ireland, Ireland XV
Position Hooker

Test career
Span Mat Start Sub Pts Tries Conv Pens Drop GfM Won Lost Draw %
All Tests 1947-1952 28 28 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 16 9 3 62.5
Ireland 1947-1952 25 25 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 15 8 2 64
British and Irish Lions 1950-1950 3 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 50
Five/Six Nations 1947-1952 23 23 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 15 6 2 69.56

Career statistics
Test debut Ireland v France at Lansdowne Road, Jan 25, 1947 match details
Last Test Ireland v Wales at Lansdowne Road, Mar 8, 1952 match details
Test Statsguru Main menu | Career summary | Match list | Tournament list
Profile

Educated at Belvedere College and Royal College of Surgeons, he went on to play for Old Belvedere RFC and gained the first of his 25 Ireland caps as a hooker in 1947 against France. He had previously appeared for Ireland in the uncapped games against France, England, Wales and Scotland in 1946.

Mullen was first choice for the 1948 Five Nations Championship and while Ernie Strathdee captained Ireland for the opening game against France, Mullen took over for the remainder of the tournament. Under his captaincy Ireland won a famous Triple Crown and Ireland's first ever Grand Slam victory. It was a fitting tribute that he and the rest of the surviving members of the 1948 team were able to witness the Ireland team repeat the feat in the 2009 Six Nations Championship.

Speaking about the famous victory at Ravenhill, Dr. Mullen said, "We were tense and anxious, yet I knew and the players knew we could win. Every man had his say, it was an important part of the pre-match preparations in a side whose hallmark was team spirit."

He led Ireland to a second Triple Crown in 1949 and was also selected as captain for the British & Irish Lions tour to New Zealand and Australia in 1950, playing in 17 games on the tour, including three test matches. At the end of his playing career, he continued to be involved in the game and had a noted administrative career which included serving as President of the Leinster Branch (1963/64) and also as Chairman of the Irish selectors.

He died in 2009 after a long illness.

Scrum Staff

Latest Articles
Hospital pass (Apr 23, 2013) Rugby World Cup-winning coaches, young Grand Slam skippers and Leinster's unbeaten run (Apr 9, 2012) Le bleu et le vert (Feb 11, 2010) A year worth remembering (Dec 31, 2009) Mullen assured of his place in history (May 1, 2009) Karl Mullen news and articles (14) »

Live Sports

Communication error please reload the page.