Fair Warning: As a vegan I have a bias….
As a vegan journalist covering any form of local sports in South Africa I am quite used to being given chicken (“That’s not meat!”) or fish for my snack which I politely decline and leave. I am quite used to bringing my own snacks along, eating just a packet of crisps or filling up on black coffee until I can get home and actually eat.
This got me thinking; “What about the Rugby Players that are Vegan? Do they also experience the same challenges? And, are there actually any Vegan Rugby Players?”
We are well aware of some famous Vegan sportspersons who extoll the virtues of quick recovery that a wholly plant based diet gives.
The concept of an elite rugby player fueled entirely by plants used to raise eyebrows in team locker rooms, but a growing number of international and professional players have adopted a 100% vegan lifestyle, successfully proving that you can maintain elite bulk, strength, and recovery on a plant-based diet.
Here are some of the most notable professional rugby union and rugby league players who identify as vegan:
1. TJ Perenara (New Zealand / All Blacks)
One of the highest-profile vegan athletes in world rugby. The veteran All Blacks scrum-half and Hurricanes legend went vegan initially for ethical reasons and has spoken openly about how his teammates at first questioned the decision, but ultimately grew to respect the immense professional conditioning and longevity it gave his career.
2. Mirco Bergamasco (Italy)
An absolute legend of Italian rugby who earned 89 caps for his country and competed in three Rugby World Cups (2003, 2007, 2011). Bergamasco transitioned to a strict ethical vegan diet later in his career. He is so passionate about the lifestyle that he and his wife later opened a vegan restaurant.
3. Anthony Mullally (Ireland / Leeds Rhinos)
In the Rugby League world, Mullally is affectionately nicknamed “The Vegan Warrior”. Standing 6 ft 5 in (196 cm) and weighing over 110 kg, the retired Super League champion and international prop for Ireland is a walking rebuttal to the idea that you can’t build elite size on a plant-based diet. He became an ambassador for the Veganuary campaign during his playing days.
4. Jade Konkel-Roberts (Scotland / Harlequins)
A powerhouse loose-forward for the Scotland national team and Harlequins, Konkel-Roberts was the first Scottish women’s player to sign a professional rugby union contract. She is a dedicated vegan athlete who frequently uses her platform to share what she eats in a day to dispel myths about power deficits on plant diets.
5. Hannah Field (Sale Sharks)
The back-row forward for the Sale Sharks Women went vegan following a gradual transition from pescatarianism to vegetarianism. She has highlighted that switching to a plant-based diet gave her significantly higher daily energy levels, faster recovery times, and sharper mental clarity on the pitch.
Honorable Mentions & The “Nearly Vegans”
Elton Jantjies (South Africa): The Springbok fly-half made headlines in meat-loving South Africa when he announced his transition to a strict vegan lifestyle during his professional career to enhance his physical conditioning.
Ilona Maher (USA): The viral USA Olympic Sevens superstar has experimented extensively with a heavily plant-based/vegan diet, frequently showcasing her nutrition habits to her massive social media following.
Ellis Genge (England): The powerhouse English prop experimented with a strict vegan diet after watching the documentary The Game Changers, though he later adjusted to a hybrid model where he eats completely vegan for designated days of the week to assist with systemic inflammation.
There is also a global club called the Green Gazelles, which is recognized as the world’s first fully vegan rugby club. It serves as an active network of over 250 professional, semi-pro, and amateur players who compete in invitational matches to promote sustainability and plant-based athletic performance.
