Key Points
- Jade Mullen, a 34-year-old British Army warrant officer based in Caerphilly, represents Wales in the Women’s Rugby League World Cup in Australia.
- Jade Mullen had never played rugby league before January 2026 when Bethan Dainton, who is the Wales captain as well as an Army officer, encouraged her to play the game.
- Mullen signed with London Broncos at the start of the season and has played a major part in helping them secure the National Championship and thus promotion to Women’s Super League.
- Mullen has played in two Wales’ matches in the World Cup so far.
- Mullen is the captain of the Army rugby union team and has led them to victory against Navy in Twickenham in 2023.
- Wales, playing their first ever World Cup, have lost to England and Samoa and will be facing defending champions Australia in their final group game.
- Mullen divides his time between the army and rugby; she is currently based with 1st Battalion, the Coldstream Guards in Windsor.
Wales (Wales Times) October 25, 2026 — Jade Mullen’s route to the Women’s Rugby League World Cup began not on a league field, but through military service and rugby union. The British Army officer is now part of Wales’ historic first World Cup squad in Australia, less than a year after playing rugby league for the first time.
As reported by Owain Llyr of BBC Sport Wales, Mullen’s switch came after Wales captain Bethan Dainton, who is also enlisted in the British Army, encouraged her to try the 13-a-side code. Mullen said: “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.”
Mullen joined London Broncos in January and trained with the club ahead of the season beginning in March. She said she “fell in love with the sport” and enjoyed the physical demands of league, despite initially balancing training with both rugby union and league.
“For a while I was training twice a week at London Broncos and then also doing rugby union training at the same time. That was tiring,”
she said.
Why is Jade Mullen’s World Cup selection significant?
Mullen’s selection matters because she has moved rapidly from a first-time rugby league player to an international representative at a global tournament. She has featured in both of Wales’ group matches at the World Cup, while also helping London Broncos secure promotion to the Women’s Super League by winning the National Championship.
Her rugby union background includes captaining the Army team and leading them to victory over the Navy at Twickenham in 2023. She described lifting the inter-services trophy at Twickenham as “pretty surreal,” particularly as a Welsh player winning at the English rugby union venue.
Mullen left home at 17 to join the British Army, where she first took up rugby union. She began at Pencoed in Wales, later played for Worcester Valkyries, and was selected by Harlequins in 2018, remaining with the club until last year.
What has Mullen said about London Broncos’ support?
Mullen credited London Broncos with accommodating her military commitments during the season. She said the club understood that the Army was her full-time job and that she was captain of the Army rugby union team.
“They gave me two or three weeks off and then I went straight back to the Broncos and we finished on a high with the season we had,”
she said.
She also reflected on the team’s development and her preference for the defensive side of the game.
“We grew as a team during the season. I enjoyed the physicality and I just love defending,”
Mullen said.
“I probably would say rugby league is a bit more physical. My union friends will probably hate that I’ve said that.”
How have Wales performed at the Women’s Rugby League World Cup?
Wales are competing in the Women’s Rugby League World Cup for the first time in their history. Their campaign has been difficult, with heavy defeats against England and Samoa in their opening two group matches.
According to BBC Sport Wales, Wales lost 76-0 to Samoa in their second group game. They now face hosts and reigning world champions Australia in their final group fixture, with qualification for the semi-finals requiring a top-two finish in the group.
Despite the results, Mullen said the players have received strong backing from supporters in Wales. She also highlighted messages from the Army rugby team, currently in Canada, who sent their best wishes during the tournament.
What is Jade Mullen’s military role?
Mullen is a warrant officer attached to 1st Battalion, the Coldstream Guards in Windsor. She combines those duties with her rugby commitments and is captain of the Army rugby union side.
She said her family have supported her throughout her career since she left home at 17. She added that the Army rugby team’s support from Canada was especially meaningful because this is the first Army rugby union fixture she has missed in the past couple of seasons.
“The Army rugby team are currently in Canada and they’ve sent me their best wishes,”
Mullen said. “The fact they’ve messaged and cheered me on from Canada is pretty special too.”
Background of the development
Jade Mullen’s development reflects the increasing crossover between rugby union and rugby league among Welsh athletes. Her rugby union career developed through Army sport, Pencoed, Worcester Valkyries and Harlequins, before Dainton’s encouragement led her to London Broncos in January 2026.
Wales’ participation in the Women’s Rugby League World Cup is itself a milestone, as the team is appearing at the tournament for the first time. Their group includes England, Samoa and Australia, creating a demanding introduction to the global stage.
Prediction: How can this affect Welsh rugby league fans?
For Welsh rugby league supporters, Mullen’s story could encourage greater interest in the women’s game and demonstrate that players from union and military backgrounds can adapt quickly to league. Her promotion with London Broncos also gives Welsh fans a visible pathway from domestic club rugby league to the Women’s Super League.
Wales’ remaining match against Australia is likely to remain challenging, given Australia’s status as reigning world champions. However, Mullen’s presence in the squad may help sustain attention on Wales’ first World Cup campaign and support long-term growth in participation, club recruitment and audience interest in women’s rugby league.
