Imagine calling a college rugby match from a pop-up canopy while sideways rain and 30 mph gusts try to carry your broadcast booth into the next state.
That was Saturday, October 10, 2026, for Chris Swisher of Just Ruckin’ With U (JRWU). The remnants of Hurricane Isaias had reached Clemson, South Carolina, and JRWU still went live with a single camera and a YoloBox Pro.
That broadcast won the Extreme Conditions category of the YoloBox Setup Showdown (#PushItToTheExtreme). Here is how a lean, battery-powered setup got a full match on air in hurricane weather, and what any outdoor sports streamer can take from it.
Who Is Just Ruckin’ With U?
JRWU is a small, independent rugby media operation. Its mission, in Chris’s words, is simple: bring more eyes, ears and energy to college rugby.
The hard part was doing it without a TV crew, expensive equipment or years of technical experience. Today JRWU broadcasts 40 to 50 college rugby and high school sporting events a year, often from campuses in less-than-ideal conditions.
The YoloBox Pro has been the backbone of those broadcasts from day one. Chris has never used another live streaming production system. He handles camera switching, encoding, audio, graphics, monitoring, recording and streaming on one device, so the team can focus on calling the match.
He believes in it enough that he has recommended YoloBox to several other collegiate rugby clubs launching their own streams.
Match Day: Clemson vs LSU in Hurricane Weather
On the evening of October 9, Hurricane Isaias made landfall near Destin, Florida as a Category 2 storm with 105 mph winds. By Saturday morning, its remnants had reached Clemson, where JRWU was set to broadcast a Southeastern Collegiate Rugby Conference match between Clemson and LSU.
Chris describes the conditions as 59°F, sideways driving rain and wind gusts approaching 30 mph. His summary: a beautiful day for rugby, and a terrible day for broadcasting.
The crew worked from a makeshift outdoor booth above the pitch: one camera, headsets, the YoloBox Pro and a pop-up canopy. Water was everywhere, and at times Chris wondered whether the canopy would end up somewhere in Georgia.
The stream stayed live for all 80 minutes of rugby. “The YoloBox Pro? Didn’t flinch,” he wrote. “Not even a hurricane could stop us.”
The Setup: Small Enough to Run From a Pop-Up Canopy
JRWU’s kit is deliberately lean. One camera covers the pitch, the commentators talk through broadcast headsets, and everything runs off a portable power station, so the booth doesn’t depend on venue power.
| Role | Gear |
|---|---|
| Production and streaming | YoloBox Pro |
| Camera | Canon VIXIA HF G40 |
| Camera monitor | Viltrox DC-70II |
| Audio mixer | Zoom PodTrak P4 |
| Commentary headsets | Audio-Technica BPHS1 |
| Wireless mics | DJI Mic Mini 2 |
| Power | Jackery Explorer 240 portable power station |
| Internet | AT&T Nighthawk hotspot + Starlink |
The small footprint is what made the canopy booth possible. A rig that needs a laptop, a separate encoder and a long cable run is much harder to keep dry, and much slower to pack up when the weather turns.
Tips for Livestreaming Outdoor Sports in Bad Weather
JRWU’s match shows what a small crew can pull off when the weather turns. A few habits from this setup are worth copying:
- Bring your own power. A portable power station like the Jackery keeps the YoloBox, monitor and audio running when there’s no outlet on the sideline.
- Carry two ways online. JRWU packs both a cellular hotspot and Starlink, so one bad signal doesn’t end the broadcast.
- Keep the kit small. One device that switches, encodes, records and streams means fewer things to shelter and fewer cables to fail.
- Plan for shelter. Chris’s canopy took the worst of the weather. Electronics, including your YoloBox, should be kept as dry as you can manage, so pack a canopy, rain covers or a tent for any outdoor forecast.
- Put commentary first. Broadcast headsets and a dedicated audio mixer are what let a commentary team sound professional from a windy sideline, and viewers notice audio as much as the picture.
“It’s Made JRWU Possible”
For Chris, the YoloBox Pro is less about specs and more about what it lets a small team do: call great rugby, entertain the audience, and give players, families, alumni and fans a real broadcast.
“YoloBox hasn’t simply made our broadcasts easier. It’s made JRWU possible.” — Chris Swisher, Just Ruckin’ With U
Watch the Clemson vs LSU broadcast on YouTube, and follow JRWU on YouTube and Instagram.
FAQ
What equipment do you need to livestream a college rugby match?
JRWU’s setup is a good minimum: one camcorder (a Canon VIXIA HF G40), a YoloBox Pro for switching, graphics, recording and streaming, an audio mixer with commentary headsets, wireless mics, a portable power station and a mobile internet connection.
Can you livestream sports without power at the field?
Yes. JRWU runs its broadcasts from a Jackery Explorer 240 portable power station, so the booth doesn’t need a venue outlet.
How do you keep a sports livestream online at an outdoor venue?
JRWU carries two internet sources, an AT&T Nighthawk hotspot and Starlink, so the crew has a backup if one connection is weak.
How do you protect livestream gear from rain?
Shelter is the first line of defense. JRWU used a pop-up canopy over its booth. For any wet forecast, bring a canopy, tent or rain covers and keep electronics as dry as possible.
Learn more about YoloBox Pro.
Missed the big reveal? Catch the moment the Extreme Conditions winners were announced in our live replay below.
Chris is one of 14 winners. See all 14 winning YoloBox setups, from a wireless camera mast run by an Xbox controller to a one-person TikTok Shop LIVE studio, in our Setup Showdown recap.
124 total views, 124 views today
a Marketing Specialist at YoloLiv，passionate about creating content that helps users explore the full potential of live streaming.
