Karl Mullen

{{Use Hiberno-English|date=February 2020}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2024}}

{{Infobox rugby biography

| name = Karl Mullen

| image = Karl Mullen 1950.jpg

| caption = Mullen in New Zealand in 1950

| birth_name = Karl Daniel Mullen

| birth_date = {{birth date|1926|11|26|df=y}}

| birth_place =

| death_date = {{death date and age|2009|4|26|1926|11|26|df=y}}

| height =

| weight =

| occupation = Gynaecologist

| university = Belvedere College
Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland

| ru_currentposition =

| ru_currentteam =

| position = Hooker

| amatyears1 =

| amatteam1 = Old Belvedere

| years1 =

| apps1 =

| points1 =

| repyears1 = 1947–1952

| repyears2 = 1950

| repteam1 = {{nrut|Ireland}}

| repteam2 = British Lions

| repcaps1 = 25

| repcaps2 = 4

| reppoints1 =

| repsevensyears1 =

| repsevenscomp1 =

}}

Dr Karl Daniel Mullen (26 November 1926 – 27 April 2009{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/britishandirishlionsrugby/5229622/Former-British-and-Irish-Lions-captain-Karl-Mullen-has-died-aged-82.html|title=Former British and Irish Lions captain Karl Mullen has died, aged 82|last=Mairs|first=Gavin|date=27 April 2009|publisher=Daily Telegraph|access-date=2009-04-27}}) was an Irish rugby union player and consultant gynaecologist who captained the Irish rugby team and captained the British Lions on their 1950 tour to Australia and New Zealand.

Mullen was born in Courtown Harbour, County Wexford and educated at Belvedere College and the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. He played as hooker, winning 25 caps{{cite news | url=http://sport.independent.co.uk/rugby_union/article2248715.ece | newspaper=The Independent | title=Theatre of Green: Gaelic games end a century of separatism | date=8 February 2007 | first=David | last=McKittrick | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070401091640/http://sport.independent.co.uk/rugby_union/article2248715.ece | archive-date=1 April 2007 | url-status=dead | access-date=12 February 2020 }} for Ireland from 1947 to 1952. He captained the Irish team to their first Grand Slam in the 1948 Five Nations Championship and was one of eight players from that team who lived to see the country's next Grand Slam in 2009.

He was also selected to captain the 1950 Lions Tour to Australia and New Zealand, during which the Lions lost the Test series against the All Blacks 3-0, with one game drawn, but won the test series against Australia 2-0.[https://web.archive.org/web/20050511052055/http://www.lionsrugby.com/1950.htm 1950 – New Zealand and Australia]. lionsrugby.com He played four tests for the Lions on that tour; two against New Zealand and two against Australia. He missed the third and fourth tests against New Zealand through injury.