![]() | |
Sport | University Sport in the United Kingdom |
---|---|
Abbreviation | BUCS |
Founded | 2008 | - University Sport 102 Years
Affiliation | FISU |
Regional affiliation | EUSA |
Location | 20–24 King's Bench Street London SE1 0QX United Kingdom |
Chairperson | Professor Craig Mahoney |
CEO | Vince Mayne |
Replaced |
|
Official website | |
www | |
![]() |
British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS) is the governing body for higher education sport in the United Kingdom. BUCS was formed in June 2008 following a merger of British Universities Sports Association (BUSA) and University College Sport (UCS) organisations. BUCS is responsible for organising more than 52 inter-university sports within the UK and representative teams for the World University Championships and the World University Games.
BUCS is a membership organisation for over 165 universities and colleges in the UK, with 6,000 teams competing across 850 leagues. Anne, Princess Royal is Patron of BUCS.
Sports
BUCS has 52 sports represented within the leagues and events. They are:[1]
- American football
- Archery
- Athletics
- Badminton
- Baseball and softball
- Basketball
- Boxing
- Canoeing
- Clay pigeon shooting
- Climbing
- Cricket
- Cycling
- Diving
- Equestrian
- Fencing
- Football
- Futsal
- Gaelic football
- Golf
- Gymnastics
- Handball
- Hockey
- Jiu jitsu
- Judo
- Karate
- Korfball
- Lacrosse
- Modern biathlon and pentathlon
- Netball
- Orienteering
- Para powerlifting
- Pool and snooker
- Rifle
- Rowing
- Rugby league
- Rugby union (including rugby sevens)
- Sailing
- Snowsports
- Squash
- Surfing
- Swimming
- Table tennis
- Taekwondo
- Tennis
- Trampolining
- Triathlon
- Ultimate Frisbee
- Volleyball
- Water polo
- Weightlifting
- Wheelchair basketball
- Windsurfing
Leagues, Competitions and Events
Team sports compete in BUCS leagues, with the majority of league fixtures taking place on Wednesday afternoons, which is commonly referred to as BUCS Wednesday. Wednesday afternoons are generally free from lectures to allow students to compete in sport. There are 850 leagues, with institutions across the country competing against each other to avoid relegation or win the league and gain promotion to higher leagues.
The finals of the Championship and Trophy are played at BUCS Big Wednesday. This annual single-day event showcases the Championship and Trophy finals across 16 league sports. The event currently takes place at the University of Nottingham.
BUCS Nationals is an annual multisport event that takes place across three days. Indoor athletics, swimming, badminton, fencing, judo, karate, rifle and climbing are the sports represented at BUCS Nationals. The event currently takes place in Sheffield.
Over the year, BUCS runs over 120 events for both individual and team sports.
BUCS Points
BUCS Points are given to institutions depending on where they finish in leagues and events. The accumulation of these points determine which institution becomes overall BUCS Champion.
Loughborough University have won the BUCS competition 40 years in a row up until the 2019–2020 season. Both the 2019–20 and 2020–21 seasons were not completed due to COVID.
Season | 2020-21[a] | 2019-20[b] | 2018-19 | 2017-18 | 2016-17 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1st | - | - | Loughborough University | Loughborough University | Loughborough University |
2nd | - | - | University of Nottingham | Durham University | Durham University |
3rd | - | - | Durham University | University of Edinburgh | University of Edinburgh |
4th | - | - | University of Edinburgh | University of Nottingham | University of Nottingham |
5th | - | - | University of Exeter | University of Bath | University of Exeter |
BUCS Super Rugby
BUCS Super Rugby is the highest level of men's university rugby in Britain and a potential pathway for university players into elite rugby. The tournament launched in 2016–17 with eight teams, before expanding to nine teams in 2017-18 and ten teams in 2019–20.
The season has two main phases:
- A double round-robin, where teams play each other home and away (known as the BUCS Super Rugby League).
- A knockout tournament featuring the top eight teams from the League (known as the BUCS Super Rugby Championship).
International/GB Students
Members of both FISU (International University Sport Federations) and EUSA (European University Sports Association), BUCS is responsible for sending a cohort of students to international events including the World University Summer & Winter Games and the European University Games. The British international team goes by the name of GB Students.
National governing body involvement
BUCS applies for annual funding from Sports England to support the delivery of student sport across the country. They also work with national governing bodies to develop sports within the student sector and some posts within BUCS are funded by governing bodies, with the aim of developing the specific sport for students.
The Football Association fund projects and positions within BUCS to help develop grassroots football. With their investment, BUCS set up 62 Football Grassroot Hubs to support Football and Futsal in the higher education sector, benefiting just under 70,000 participants. BUCS and The FA also joined to create the Women's Leadership Programme, providing students with important skills and qualities to help them in their future careers whether that is in the football and sporting sector or not. The first cohort of leaders graduated in 2020.
Board
The BUCS Board is responsible for leading strong governance and strategic leadership within the sector. The Board is made up of the chair, seven independent directors and two BUCS directors - one representing students and the other representing the senior staff of the membership.
Chair of the Board: Professor Craig Mahoney
Commercial and marketing director: Andy Westlake
Governance and Legal Director: Jenny Agnew
Physical Health & Activity Director: Born Barikor
Inclusion Director: Josef Baines
Sport and Competition Director: Katy Storie
Professional & Workforce Director: Nigel Wallace
Finance Director: Simon Wilson
Chair of BUCS Senior Managers Executive: Cathy Gallagher
Student Director: Madeleine Cannell
Hall of Fame
In 2019, BUCS introduced the Hall of Fame to celebrate the centenary of British university sport. The Hall of Fame acknowledges individual's dedication and achievements in sport. Members of the Hall of Fame include:
- Alison Odell CBE
- Bill Slater CBE
- Christine Ohuruogu MBE
- Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill
- Dame Katherine Grainger DBE
- Danielle Brown MBE
- Dr Deng Yaping
- Eric Liddell
- Liz Nicholl CBE
- Sir Gareth Edwards CBE
- Sir Roger Bannister CH CBE
See also
- International University Sports Federation
- Scottish Universities Sport
- Colleges & Universities Sports Association of Ireland
- National Collegiate Athletic Association
- U Sports
References
- ^ "All sports". British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS).