Volunteer Youth Coach gets The Ultimate Experience with Skyscanner

11 Feb 2026

Ruiraidh Porteous, a grassroots rugby hero from Bo'ness, was surprised by Skyscanner with a once in a lifetime travel experience for Scotland's Guinness Men's Six nations opener against Italy

Skyscanner shared the touching moment one grassroots rugby hero was surprised with a travel experience that money can’t buy.

The global travel app gifted 17-year-old Ruiraidh Porteous from Bo’ness Rugby Club a seat on the plane with the Scotland team for the national side’s first Guinness Men’s Six Nations fixture against Italy.

Surprised by Scotland’s very own Sione Tuipulotu, Ruiraidh was stunned with the news that he would be travelling with the team. See the surprise here:

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Skyscanner’s grassroots hero is Ruiraidh Porteous from Bo’ness Rugby Club. At 17, he is a committed volunteer, running training sessions as a Youth Coach and supporting matches as a Scottish Rugby-qualified referee.

In 2025, he was named Scottish Rugby Union Young Person of the Year for his work at his club, school, and within the wider community. After a serious injury ended his playing career, Ruiraidh turned his focus to volunteering, making a significant impact by encouraging young people to take up rugby.

Skyscanner chose Ruiraidh for the Ultimate Experience to recognise and reward a true grassroots hero.

Clive Peoples, Skyscanner’s Chief Marketing Officer, said: “Skyscanner has always been about helping travellers find the best flights, and this time we’ve taken that idea a step further. We’re incredibly proud to be able to reward grassroots hero Ruiraidh with a plane ticket that truly is priceless. His work in the sport is inspirational.

“However, every dedicated supporter knows you don’t have to have a seat on the plane with the team to make incredible memories when travelling for your favourite sport. Skyscanner has been a fan favourite for years, and we are committed to making it as easy as possible to travel to compete in your chosen sport or follow your team anywhere you need to go.”

Steve Turnbull, Scottish Rugby’s Head of Rugby Development Operations, added: “Ruiraidh is a brilliant example of a community hero within our game. He has tirelessly volunteered at Bo’ness Rugby Club and the local school, supporting and encouraging young people to pick up a rugby ball and get involved in the game.

“He doesn’t just promote and encourage people to play rugby, he inspires the young people through his dedication and leadership. He’s a cornerstone of the club and it was these qualities that won him our Youth Volunteer of the Season Award at the Scottish Rugby Community Recognition Awards last season.

“It is humbling to see the dedication Ruiraidh gives to his community through the rugby club, so we’re delighted we are able to reward him, in partnership with Skyscanner, with this special trip to Italy.”

Skyscanner is seeing a rise in sports tourism*, with 29% of 25-34-year-olds (and 20% of all UK travellers) planned to travel either domestically or internationally to see a sporting event in 2025. Their top three reasons:

44% say it’s all about the entertainment
42% say it’s for the sense of excitement
30% say it’s about feeling part of a community

2026 will be a huge year for all things sports, and the “Ultimate Experience” for Ruiraidh is the first of several similar surprises coming from the Skyscanner team.

Skyscanner gives travelling sports fans the best view of all their options when planning a journey to support their team. Skyscanner’s travel hacks for sports fans can be found here.