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RugbyPass have documented the incredible story of Paul Mullen, the Irishman who packed down for the USA at tighthead at last year’s World Cup finals in Japan.
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The 28-year-old – who has won 18 caps since making a 2018 Test debut – is currently stranded at his family home on Inis Mór, the largest of the three Aran Islands, after he came back from San Diego Legion following the cancellation of the 2020 Major League Rugby season in March.
Mullen expected to be working in the family business, Aran Bike Hire, for only two months. However, pandemic travel restrictions between Ireland and the United States have extended his stay, leaving him training in isolation and so far unable to get back across the Atlantic ahead of the 2021 season.
“I suppose right now I’m trying to get back into the States,” he said in The Islander, the documentary charting his sudden rise from rugby obscurity to starting against his native Ireland at Aviva Stadium in November 2018 before going to gain World Cup selection.
“I came home for two months to help out and now I am stuck here, basically until whenever (Donald) Trump lets me back in.”
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Mullen represented Munster and Ireland at age-grade levels while growing up, regularly taking the 40-minute ferry to the mainland in Galway and then bussing it to Limerick 65 miles away for training. However, when his parents wanted him to put education before rugby, they enrolled him to study marine engineering in Texas, far away from the hubbub of the vibrant rugby scene in Ireland.
After graduating in America many years later, Mullen felt he had unfinished business in rugby and he quickly went from playing at a lower level with Galveston to starring for Houston in the MLR and then on to selection for the USA Eagles.
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“It just happened so fast. You’re going from playing division three with Galveston and a few weeks later you’re playing for the Houston SaberCats and a couple of months later you’re playing for the USA. Mad, it happened to me very fast.”
Filmed in late July on Inis Mór, The Islander follows Mullen as he balances work with training in his rough-and-ready back garden gym, trying to keep himself fit for when he can eventually return to playing rugby in America, a country very different from island life off the west coast of Ireland.
“The toughest thing about living on the island is coming and going but also getting stuff out here, bringing 100kgs of weight on the ferry, it’s a pain in the ass,” he explained. “Nothing comes easy out here. You definitely have to work for it.
“The island is nine miles long and three miles wide. To me it’s normal, I wouldn’t know any different. Population about 800 people so you know everybody, everybody knows you which can be good and bad… from living in the States and stuff, growing up here as a kid it was fantastic as you had so much freedom. As a kid, you just hopped on your bike and cycled around the place.”
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Comments on RugbyPass
Ah, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
48 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
22 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
22 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
22 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
22 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
1 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
22 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
17 Go to commentsNot good to hear Ulster described as “financially troubled”. Did not think it was getting to that level. I would hope the Irish system of spreading players of talent away from Leinster would kick in now. Better to have a Leinster fringe player with Ulster or Connacht, then getting only a few games a season in Dublin. 10, for example, would seem to be a case for spreading the talent. I would not be at all adverse to a SA man coming in as head coach/DR. Ludeke is worth trying. Certainly got a long and impressive coaching career at this level…..149 games in SR, then Japan, 30 years experience. And Ulster’s ledger of successful SA coaches and players is on the positive side. Is talk of Ruan Pienaar interested in coming back as a coach…..could be a good combination with Ludeke. And Pienaar and family would have no settling in to do, one would judge. He loved life in Ulster when there, by all reports.
1 Go to commentsSome thoughts to consider here, Sam. Thanks
2 Go to commentsI think he is right, SBW is respected in RSA. The guy who never stood up is a worm. Sseems lots of NZ SBW hate, you do the crime do the time.
17 Go to commentsAfter missing the curfew, the player was simply too “Shagged” to stand up.
17 Go to commentsVernier is probably the best 12 in the world though she has some English competition these days . I am nervous for England because it is unpredictable France and who knows which team will turn up, but they have not yet shown anything that should worry England, Saturday could be a different day. I would be more confident against the BFs.
1 Go to commentsWhat a difference Rodda and Carter made. Rodda has been out for ages but he is really the only world class lock in Australian rugby. Him, Carter and Beale made a huge difference on the weekend. If only they had a few decent props they’d be a much more dangerous team. Hamish Stewart was excellent last week as well. His carrying has improved significantly and has to be next in line after Paisami at 12 for the Wallabies. He’ll benefit hugely with Beale at fullback, there’s just no better communicator in Australian rugby than him and his experience will make a huge difference for the Force. No one sees space like Beale and he’s still sharp. I can see Force making a late charge into the top 8 if they can get some consistency.
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