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Overview
In this episode of the With You! Rugby Podcast, host Jon Hinkin sits down with Alex Goff, a member of the US Rugby Foundation Hall of Fame Class of 2026. As the founder of Goff Rugby Report and one of the longest-serving voices in American rugby media, Alex has spent more than two decades chronicling the sport at every level, helping shape how the rugby community follows, understands, and celebrates the game.
The conversation traces Alex's path from freelance writing in the mid-1990s, learning the ropes under legendary editor Ed Hagerty at Rugby Magazine, to launching his own outlet, Goff Rugby Report, in 2001. What started as an experiment in independent online journalism grew into one of the most trusted sources for college, high school, and national team rugby coverage in the country.
Along the way, Alex traveled to multiple Rugby World Cups and Sevens tournaments, covered the rise of the USA Eagles on the international stage, and built a reputation for telling the human stories behind the results. His journey also includes an unlikely turn into rugby administration and coaching, years of service to youth and high school programs, and a deep personal connection to the sport that carried him through both triumph and tragedy.
Show Notes
[0:14] Introduction to the With You! Rugby Podcast and a preview of Hall of Fame Week in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, including the induction ceremony and USA Men's Test Match against Argentina.
[1:24] Jon welcomes Hall of Fame inductee Alex Goff and reflects on their 30-year relationship within the American rugby media community.
[2:08] Alex looks back on the early days of American rugby media, crediting Ed Hagerty and Rugby Magazine for giving him his start and welcoming new voices into the sport.
[3:14] How the rise of the internet in the mid-1990s opened the door for Alex to begin publishing rugby content online, including early work for E-Sports.com and Planet Rugby.
[6:50] The founding of Goff Rugby Report in 2001, with the encouragement of his wife, after Planet Rugby cut its roster of paid columnists.
[10:00] Covering multiple Rugby World Cups internationally, including tournaments in Australia, France, and New Zealand, along with Sevens events in Dubai and Vancouver.
[11:55] Why Alex chose to focus his coverage on college and high school rugby rather than expanding into Major League Rugby, and how readership data shaped that decision.
[16:18] The unlikely story of founding the Bay Rugby Club in 1998 and Alex's transition from playing to coaching, including seven years as head coach of a girls' high school program.
[18:28] How Alex became president of Washington Youth Rugby almost by accident, simply by being the person who showed up to help run a youth tournament.
[20:50] Reflecting on the value of high school rugby, the impact of positive coaching, and stories of athletes whose confidence and careers were shaped by being noticed and written about.
[24:47] Discussing the generational lineage of American rugby media, including Jackie Finlan, Pat Clifton, Zach Bateman, and others who built on the foundation Alex helped establish.
[28:54] How rugby journalism and storytelling have evolved with shorter attention spans, the rise of social media, and the importance of using consistent, accurate rugby terminology.
[34:47] Some of Alex's most memorable moments covering the game, including the USA Eagles' win over Canada in 2003 and time spent embedded with the U.S. Military Rugby team.
[37:42] The rugby ethos of "sweeping the shed," leadership through service, and stories of players whose character left a lasting impression both on and off the field.
[43:49] How the rugby community supported Alex following the loss of his wife in 2020, and his decision to move to Cleveland and return to coaching at Saint Ignatius.
[45:32] Learning he had been selected for the Hall of Fame, and reflecting on the honor with humility and gratitude.
[54:54] Asked to summarize his career in one word, Alex chooses "educational," reflecting on a lifetime of learning the game, the media landscape, and the people who make rugby special.
Wrap Up
Jon closes the episode by celebrating Alex Goff's extraordinary contribution to American rugby. For more than two decades, Alex has told the stories that connected the rugby community to the game, elevating players, coaches, and programs that might otherwise have gone unnoticed. From his earliest days writing for a few dollars to becoming one of the most respected voices in the sport, his impact on how Americans experience and understand rugby is undeniable.
The invitation is open to everyone: join the celebration on Friday, August 14th in Fort Lauderdale as Alex Goff and the rest of the Hall of Fame Class of 2026 are officially inducted into the US Rugby Foundation Hall of Fame.
