● How To Guide — Careers in Rugby
How To Get A Job In
Broadcasting, Media, Social Media & Podcasts
Every broadcasting, journalism, social media and podcast job title in rugby, plus what qualifications, training and experience each one actually needs, globally across rugby union and rugby league.
25+ job titles covered
Union + League both codes
10 FAQs answered
The Job Roles
Broadcasting, media & content roles in rugby
Every match, club and union needs people to broadcast it, write about it, post about it and talk about it. These roles rarely need a rugby-specific qualification — what matters is the right media skillset, a strong portfolio, and genuine knowledge of the game.
Broadcasting & commentary
- Commentator — calls the match live for TV, radio or streaming.
- Co-commentator / Summariser — usually a former player providing expert analysis alongside the commentator.
- Presenter / Host — fronts studio shows, build-up and half-time coverage.
- Touchline / Sideline Reporter — delivers pitch-side updates and post-match interviews.
Broadcast production & technical
- Broadcast Producer / Match Producer — plans and runs the live broadcast output.
- Director (TV) — calls camera shots and replays during a live broadcast.
- Camera Operator — operates match-day broadcast cameras.
- Sound / Broadcast Engineer — manages audio and technical broadcast equipment.
Journalism & media
- Sports Journalist / Rugby Correspondent — writes match reports, news and features for print or online.
- Match Reporter — covers live matches for immediate publication.
- Editor / Sub-editor — manages and refines published content for a publication or website.
- Sports Photographer — captures match-day and event imagery for media use.
Social media
- Social Media Manager — owns the strategy and output across a club, union or media brand’s channels.
- Social Media Executive / Content Creator — produces day-to-day posts, clips and graphics.
- Community Manager — manages fan engagement, comments and community interaction online.
- Videographer / Editor — films and edits short-form video content for social channels.
Podcasts & on-demand audio
- Podcast Host — fronts a rugby podcast, whether independent, club-affiliated or part of a media network.
- Podcast Producer — plans episodes, books guests and oversees the recording and release process.
- Audio Editor — edits and mixes episodes to a broadcast-ready standard.
- Researcher / Booker — sources guests, storylines and background research for episodes.
Qualifications & Training
What’s needed for each role
None of these are legally regulated professions, so there’s no single mandatory qualification anywhere in the world. What matters most is a demonstrable portfolio or demo reel, alongside relevant training where it exists.
Commentary & presenting
No formal qualification required — built through demo reels, hospital radio, student media, or local/community rugby commentary before stepping up to professional broadcasts.
Broadcast production & technical
A media production or broadcast engineering degree helps; many technical crew roles are also learned through broadcaster apprenticeship or trainee schemes (e.g. with major rights-holding broadcasters).
Journalism
A journalism degree or a recognised industry qualification (e.g. the NCTJ in the UK, or an equivalent journalism accreditation body elsewhere) is common, alongside a portfolio of published work.
Broadcast journalism specifically
In the UK, a BJTC-accredited course is well regarded for broadcast-specific journalism roles; other countries have their own equivalent broadcast journalism training bodies.
Social media
No specific degree required — a marketing, communications or journalism background helps, but clubs hire primarily on a proven content portfolio and platform-specific experience.
Photography & videography
A portfolio matters far more than a qualification, though a photography, film or media production degree can help build technical foundations.
Podcasting
No formal qualification exists — most podcasters build a following independently first, then get picked up by a club, union or established rugby media network.
Across all roles
Sports journalism or sports broadcasting postgraduate courses are widely available and can help candidates build both skills and industry contacts.
Global note
Specific accrediting bodies (like NCTJ or BJTC) are UK-specific, but the underlying skills — writing, presenting, editing, producing — transfer across countries and both codes.
The Route In
How to get a broadcasting or media role in rugby
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1
Pick your lane
Commentary/presenting, production/technical, journalism/writing, social media, or podcasting. Most careers are built in one lane, with natural crossover as you gain experience.
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2
Build a portfolio or demo reel first
This industry hires almost entirely on demonstrable work — published articles, a commentary demo reel, an edited highlights package, or a podcast back-catalogue — rather than qualifications alone.
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3
Get your first reps at grassroots level
Commentate or write about local, community or school rugby first. Student media, hospital radio and community club channels are the most common places people are first heard or read.
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4
Consider a relevant qualification
A journalism degree, an NCTJ or BJTC-accredited course (UK), or a media production degree can strengthen an application, especially for entry-level roles at major broadcasters or publications.
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5
Target internships and freelance work
Broadcasters, clubs, unions and rugby media outlets regularly take on interns and freelance contributors — this is the most common way to get a foot in the door.
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6
Build a following if you go independent
Especially for podcasting and social media, an established personal following can itself become the pitch to a club, union or media network looking to bring in outside talent.
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7
Check RugbyJobs.com regularly
Broadcasting, media, social media and content vacancies across both codes are listed here as they’re posted — sign up for job alerts so you don’t have to keep checking manually.
Answered
Frequently asked questions
Tap a question to expand it. This content matches the FAQPage structured data embedded in this page.
Do I need to have played rugby to become a commentator?
What qualification do I need to become a rugby journalist?
How do I get my first commentary experience?
Do social media roles need a specific degree?
Can I start a rugby podcast without any experience?
What’s the difference between BJTC and NCTJ qualifications?
Are broadcast technical roles (camera, sound, production) hard to get into?
Do these roles differ between rugby union and rugby league?
Can these roles be based anywhere in the world?
Where can I find live vacancies in these roles?
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