Women in Sport: Women’s Rugby Sevens Captain, Lucy Mulhall

Lucy Mulhall is a proud Wicklow and Tinahely woman who describes herself as sports-mad. Growing up playing Gaelic football with her sister, Lucy was selected for a 7s rugby trial at the age of 20, and has been contracted with the Irish 7s team ever since.

For Lucy, family is paramount. “I am very close to my parents and siblings. I have an older sister, who is also my best friend, and three younger brothers, who probably prepared me for rugby long before I started playing!” she says. “I am marrying my fiancé, Michael Rock, at the end of this year, and love coffee, watching sport, the Great British Bake Off, Christmas and Cadburys chocolate.”

Here, Lucy Mulhall shares her sporting story so far…

Name: Lucy Mulhall

Profession: Professional Rugby Player and VP, Business Development at TritonLake

Earliest sporting memory?

Playing football on the slanted pitch at my national school, Crossbridge National School, with my cousin Ronan and wearing my Manchester United jersey.

How did you become involved in your sport?

My family are all into sport, my mam played football for Wicklow and my dad also played football and has a European medal for Tug O’ War with his brother Christy. When we were younger my 4 siblings and I were all brought to try football, camogie/hurling, athletics and also Irish dancing and music. It was very clear that the music and dancing wasn’t for me! And I loved all forms of sport straight away.

What message would you like to share with young women and girls interested in pursuing a career as an athlete?

It is possible and a realistic goal for them, as back when I was young there were far less opportunities visible to me, so if I can live this life then they can. Also, just to find their passion and place where they feel at their happiest and where they belong and work hard at that passion but never stop enjoying it.

Proudest moment so far…

The honour of captaining my country will always make me so proud and to be the captain of the squad that qualified Irish women’s 7s rugby for the Olympics for the first time in history is probably the biggest moment as Michael, my family and friends were there to share the moment with me.

The female athlete I admire most is…

I have always and will always admire my sister, Emily. She’s older than me and has always been my hero. She plays camogie and football and works so hard, both at training and with extra sessions, to be the best she can be. I have also always looked up to Katie Taylor, she is an incredible role model for us on how to remain strong in your beliefs and who you are and also how to push the boundaries of what is possible for female athletes.

Favourite sporting memory…

Toulouse 2023, coming in off the pitch after qualifying and seeing my partner, my family (including Christy, my uncle who passed away the month after) and friends and celebrating with them as well as my teammates and their families. It was very special!

Do you think there is still a stigma around women in sport?

I think it’s definitely improving, there are definitely differences between how different female sports are treated and perceived, but for 7s rugby it is great to see how a new sport can set new bars of equality as this year we play the same stops as the men on the World Series, same pitches, same standard of hotels, flights etc.

What is the biggest barrier to driving visibility in women’s sports?

I think the biggest barrier is funding and resources at the female youth level. There is a large step from underage sports for females in Ireland to play at National and Senior level. I think, perhaps, with better-resourced youth programmes and academies at these levels the support and following, as well as participation, in female sports would grow.

The biggest stigma/misconception that exists in women’s sport is…

That the women’s game is less exciting and entertaining than the men’s game.

If I wasn’t an athlete I would be…

Working full-time with TritonLake, as I work part-time with them currently and they are very supportive with my training commitments.

My favourite pre-match meal is…

Porridge.

My pre-match playlist includes…

I listen to music on the team speaker, which is upbeat and gets the energy high…but before that, I will listen to some Irish music on the bus and Christy Moore always features!

My daily routine is…

I wake at 5.30am and drive to the HPC in Dublin for training. I get coffee and porridge before team meetings and pitch training. I then refuel and have another coffee! We then either have another pitch session or a gym session and finally some lunch and team analysis. I then drive back home and log onto work for 2 hours in the evening. I will then have dinner and watch some TV with my fiancé Michael, sister Emily and friend Kate, who I live with.

My biggest sporting goal is…

Win a Gold medal at the Olympic Games in Paris.

Sports brands I love (Irish or otherwise)…

A friend of mine just started his own clothing business called APEC, and I love their clothes and kit! I also love 4th Arq, Lululemon and Nike.

Biggest splurge to celebrate a win…

Other than on a celebratory champagne on a night out! Probably a tattoo I got with my team after we qualified.

How do you mind your mental health?

I talk with our Psychologist in the IRFU, I chat through my thoughts with my loved ones, I also like to walk and listen to a podcast. I find sleeping is probably the biggest thing that helps and when I am rested I feel ready to take on any challenges in life.

My three desert island beauty products are…

My Tangle Teezer, Benefit Gimme Brow and Cerave moisturiser with SPF.

I need 9 hours of sleep a night because…

I feel fatigued without it and we push our bodies so hard in training that I need that much sleep to ensure my body recovers day to day. It also helps with my ability to concentrate and think clearly.

Confidence, to me, is…

Knowing who you truly are and what you stand for, and, in sport and work, being prepared, knowing you’ve done everything you can and worked as hard as you possibly could to achieve your full potential.

How do you get over a bad performance?

I connect with my teammates, review the game and chat through solutions and learnings. And then refocus on the next opportunity to perform again.

Lastly, why is sport such an integral part of community, on a club, local, national and personal level?

It connects people, whether through meeting teammates who become friends for life, or going to my sister and brother’s games and chatting to friends and neighbours there, or sitting at the kitchen table chatting about a game or watching a game together, it brings people together. I love how it can bring so much happiness and passion to our lives. Also, playing teaches you valuable lessons for life. Life is hard and sport is often a brief respite for people out of a stressful week.

Imagery via David Fitzgerald at Sports File.