The Army Officer playing for Wales at a World Cup
Jade Mullen, a British Army officer, has successfully transitioned from rugby union to rugby league to represent Wales at the World Cup. Despite her full-time military commitments, she balanced training with the London Broncos to achieve professional success in the sport.
Why it matters
Highlights the intersection of military service and professional sports, showcasing how athletes manage dual-career paths in niche sports.
Jade Mullen's journey to the Women's Rugby League World Cup has been an unconventional one.
A last-minute code switch within the sport allowed her to earn a place in Wales' squad for the showpiece tournament in Australia.
Mullen has plenty of rugby union experience having captained the Army's team at high-profile venues like Twickenham.
But she had never played rugby league before January this year. That changed when Wales captain Bethan Dainton, who is also enlisted in the British Army, encouraged her to try the 13-a-side game.
She started training with London Broncos and the rest, as they say, is history.
"Me and Bethan have been close friends for a few years. She's played rugby league much longer than me and she always said that I'd enjoy it, so I thought I'd give it a go," said Mullen.
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