The Cause

Why work in rugby’s charity sector?

Alongside professional clubs and unions, rugby supports a global network of charities and not-for-profits using the sport to tackle child poverty, disability, player welfare and community development. They regularly hire for fundraising, communications, programme delivery and operations roles — and most run structured internship or volunteering routes for people early in their career. You don’t need to have played rugby to work in this space; you need relevant charity-sector or communications skills and a genuine interest in the cause.

The Route In

How to get hired, step by step

1. 01

   Understand the different types of rugby charity

   They generally fall into four groups: child/youth development, disability & disadvantage, player welfare & benevolent funds, and international sport-for-development NGOs. Pick the mission that resonates — it comes through in your application.

2. 02

   Match your existing skills to a charity function

   Most roles are charity-sector jobs first, rugby second. Fundraising, digital marketing, grant-writing, finance, safeguarding and monitoring & evaluation are all transferable in from any non-profit or corporate background.

3. 03

   Get sector-specific experience or training

   A postgraduate qualification in International Development, NGO Management, or Charity Fundraising helps for programme and leadership roles. For entry-level roles, volunteering or a short safeguarding/fundraising course is often enough.

4. 04

   Start with volunteering or a short-term internship

   The Atlas Foundation runs a paid 13-month internship (recruiting Sept–Jan). Wooden Spoon and Rugby League Cares take on regional volunteers who often move into paid roles.

5. 05

   Build a portfolio that shows impact, not just activity

   Charities hire people who can demonstrate outcomes — money raised, beneficiaries reached, or programme results. Quantify it on your CV.

6. 06

   Network inside the rugby-for-good community

   This is a small, well-connected world. Follow the organisations below on LinkedIn and don’t be afraid to send a direct, specific question to a named contact — many of these charities are small teams who do reply.

7. 07

   Check RugbyJobs.com regularly

   Charity and non-profit vacancies in rugby are posted alongside club and union roles — check back often rather than relying on a single organisation’s own careers page. Don’t want to keep checking manually? Sign up for job alerts and we’ll email you as soon as a new charity or not-for-profit role is posted.

   Sign up for job alerts

8. 08

   Apply directly — and follow their process exactly

   Most rugby charities are small and don’t use big applicant-tracking systems; they usually want a CV and cover letter sent straight to a named email address. Address the mission directly and follow submission instructions to the letter.

Who’s Hiring

Rugby charities & not-for-profits hiring globally

A non-exhaustive list of established organisations that use rugby for social good and regularly recruit staff, interns or volunteers. Always check the organisation’s own careers page for live vacancies before applying.

Honest note: not every top-20 rugby nation has a dedicated national rugby charity with its own careers page — some channel welfare and community work through their national union instead. Check RugbyJobs.com for current openings connected to rugby in your country.

Example Roles

Job & internship types to look out for

The Job Search

How to apply

Unlike large corporate recruiters, most rugby charities are small teams without an applicant-tracking portal. In practice, applying means:

1. 1

   Read the job description in full

   Note the exact documents requested — usually just a CV and a cover letter.

2. 2

   Email the named contact directly

   Most of the organisations above recruit this way rather than through a portal.

3. 3

   Name the charity’s specific mission

   Write a cover letter that addresses their actual programme — not a generic “I love rugby” letter.

4. 4

   Follow up politely after 1–2 weeks

   Small teams can be slow to reply, especially around events and fundraising seasons.

5. 5

   Apply within the recruitment window for internships

   e.g. Atlas Foundation recruits Sept–Jan for its July-start internship — don’t email speculatively year-round.

Answered

Frequently asked questions

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Organisation details, recruitment windows and vacancy listings change frequently — always confirm directly with the charity before applying.