URC opens 50 places for women seeking careers in sport, with applications due 30 November

Young women interested in the work behind professional sport have until 30 November to apply for the 2027 United Rugby Championship Women’s Leadership Academy. The programme is offering 50 places to applicants aged 18 to 26 from around the world.

The opportunity reaches beyond playing rugby. The URC’s announcement describes live online workshops and mentoring across sport, business and media, with broadcasting, communications, event management and leadership among the areas represented.

What the programme offers

The CVC-supported academy is entering its fifth year. The organiser says one participant will be recognised as its most valuable participant, with an opportunity for experience at the URC Grand Final and an industry internship. That individual opportunity should not be read as an internship guarantee for all 50 participants.

Speakers listed by the organiser include South African broadcaster Motshidisi Mohono, Scottish referee Hollie Davidson and World Rugby’s Deirdre O’Sullivan. Selection gives access to a development programme; it is not an offer of salaried employment.

What the application actually asks for

The official form requires a video before the remaining questions are completed. It sets a maximum length of three minutes and asks applicants to introduce themselves, discuss their interests and explain which woman in sports leadership inspires them.

It explicitly says production quality will not determine the video assessment and that a selfie recording is acceptable. It also asks two written questions, each with a 300-word limit: why the applicant wants a sports-sector career and why she should be selected.

The form collects education, employment, language and contact information, and includes privacy and programme terms. It warns that an application without the video will not be considered. Applicants should check the live form’s eligibility instructions against their own circumstances before submitting.

Prepare a clear account of your experience

An application can be concrete without being expensive. Organising a school fixture, helping a community club communicate or volunteering at an event can provide a starting point for explaining an interest in sports work. The organiser will decide which experience meets its selection criteria.

A useful preparation exercise is to choose one example, explain the responsibility you took and identify what you want to learn next. That is an application suggestion from TPR, not an additional requirement imposed by the URC.

Before recording, applicants can rehearse within the published time limit and check that their voice is audible. Spending money on a production company is unnecessary when the form itself says a selfie is acceptable. Keep time for the written questions rather than assuming the upload completes the application.

Use the organiser’s direct route

Applications should go through the URC’s linked academy form. Read the consent choices and programme terms before sharing personal information or agreeing to promotional use of a video. Questions can be directed to the academy through its published contact route.

The deadline creates a practical planning window for students and young workers. It also offers a different way to follow sport this weekend: as an industry in which women can seek responsibilities and careers, alongside the results on the field.