The Rugby Union Writers’ Club was formed at a meeting in the Albany public house, Station Yard, Twickenham, on 16 January 1960.

The club was conceived during a discussion between the late Terry O’Connor (Daily Mail), John Reed (Sunday Express), Fred Garside (Hayters Agency) and John Reason (Sunday Telegraph) at the Cock Tavern, Fleet Street.

The objects of the club are:

(a) to further the interests of Rugby Union Football;

(b) to further the interests of its members.

Membership is open to all writers, photographers and broadcasters actively involved in rugby union journalism, and while it is a UK-based organisation, there are members around the world.

What we do:

RUWC organises social events, like the annual lunch, January charity pub quiz, and the Welsh Rugby Writers’ awards, and supports journalists in the rugby media by representing their views in discussions with clubs, leagues, competitions, unions and governing bodies.

We are not a union, but push to improve facilities and access to make sure all rugby journalists can operate in the best working environment possible. Our annual access survey helps with this.

Members are entitled to vote for the Pat Marshall Memorial Award, crowning the outstanding rugby figure of the year and receive our handbook — which contains contact details for every member, clubs in the Gallagher Prem, Premiership Women’s Rugby, Champ Rugby and the United Rugby Championship, plus the major rugby-playing nations.

Members can also purchase tickets to our annual lunch in May, and join other events.