Gain publishing experience with Ruck, a leading UK-based rugby news website!

With rugby’s profile set to grow significantly in the United States – especially as the host nation of the 2031 Men’s Rugby World Cup and 2033 Women’s Rugby World Cup – this opportunity comes at a perfect time for future sports journalists. Ruck is a market leader in terms of page views, unique readership, and engagement across the UK, and we’re keen to collaborate with aspiring sports journalists in the United States.  

This opportunity allows reporters to gain hands-on experience covering rugby union, with a particular focus on the USA Eagles men’s and women’s teams, as well as upon Major League Rugby (MLR). We are looking to grow our MLR coverage and would love for students to be involved in our coverage on the league, with in-person reporting on the Miami Sharks. Coverage can also include remote reporting, and Ruck can assist with travel costs for in-person match days when required. 

We have successfully built strong work experience relationships with universities from all across the UK, leading to consistent regional club reporters assigned at every Premiership Rugby club and the four Welsh clubs in the United Rugby Championship. 

Some of these reporters have also had the opportunity to cover international matches, including University of South Wales student Harry Tovey, who reported on Wales in the Six Nations (covering games in France and Italy) and St. George’s University of London student Cameron Archibald, who has previously covered Scotland’s international matches. Now, we’re looking to expand this model into the United States.

One major upcoming fixture we’d love to have students cover is the USA men’s national team’s match against England on July 19th at Audi Field in Washington, D.C. This is a huge opportunity to cover an international test match featuring one of the world’s top rugby nations, and we’d love to have a reporter or two on-site to provide coverage. Ruck is open to assisting with travel costs to make this and future national team coverage possible.  

The USA Eagles women’s team is also gaining increasing attention, thanks in part to players like Ilona Maher, whose growing influence has helped boost interest in women’s rugby across the world. At Ruck, we previously interviewed Ilona during her time at Bristol Bears Women, and the article gained impressive traction, demonstrating the rising interest in women’s rugby both in the U.S. and internationally. With this momentum, there’s never been a better time for students to be involved in covering the sport.  

To support students in their work, we also offer a rewards plan: for every 10 published articles on Ruck, students will receive an online gift card valued at £25 (approximately $32).

Reach out to Chief Rugby Writer Tom Sansom (tom.sansom@ruck.co.uk) for more information and to learn how to apply!