British Universities American Football League

British Universities American Football League
BUAFL logo
SportAmerican football
Founded2007
Divisions4 with a total of 15 conferences
No. of teams79 (2024–25 season)
Country United Kingdom
Most recent
champion(s)		UWE Bullets[1]

The British Universities American Football League (BUAFL) is an American football league contested by university teams in the United Kingdom as part of the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) organisation. The league was formed by the British American Football Association (BAFA), the national governing body of American football in the UK, in 2007 as the successor to the British Collegiate American Football League, after BAFA withdrew its recognition of the British Student American Football Association which ran that league.[2][3] The BUAFL has been credited with reviving interest in American football in the UK.[4]

From 2008, the BUAFL was officially associated with the National Football League (NFL), through its partner organisation NFL UK.[5] In 2012, BUAFL's league and teams were absorbed into BUCS after American football became an official BUCS sport.[6] Over the period 2007 to 2014, the BUAFL grew from 42 teams and 2,460 participants to 75 teams and over 4,100 people involved.[7] It has remained at a similar size since, with 79 teams from 77 institutions and over 4,000 students involved in the 2024–25 season.[8]

As of 2024, BUCS American football is entirely full-contact, but The Times has reported that a flag football competition is planned for the 2025–26 season.[9]

Media

The BUCS American Football leagues are covered by multiple outlets such as American Football International and Sportank. The Latter of which starting live streaming games in January 2022[10] as well as hosting a weekly show called "The Rundown", predictions and rankings posts,[11] with Chris "Tebbs" Tebbutt being the key contributor and commentator for the BUCS fixtures.

League structure

Current structure

In 2024, BUCS introduced a five-team Premier National division above the Premier North and Premier South. Only the national champions, UWE, were promoted from the Premier South with the other four teams being the four that qualified for the post-season from the Premier North. There was no relegation from either regional premier league after the 2023–24 season. The reorganisation retained six regional Tier 1 divisions and six (different) regional Tier 2 divisions. The Tier 1 divisions for 2024/25 were: Midlands and Yorkshire, Northern, Scottish, South Eastern, South Western, and Southern, and the Tier 2 divisions were Midlands, North Eastern, North Western, South Eastern, South Western, and Southern. The teams allocated to the premier divisions at the start of the 2024–2025 season were:[12][13]


Premier divisions

National
North South
class=notpageimage|
Premier National teams (gold), Premier North teams (red), Premier South teams (blue)

Tier 1 divisions

Scottish Northern Midlands and Yorkshire
Southern South East South West

Tier 2 Divisions

North Western North Eastern Midlands
Southern South Western South Eastern

2016–2023 structure

A revised structure was announced by BUCS on 26 August 2016. This consisted of two Premier divisions, six regional Tier 1 divisions and six regional Tier 2 divisions.[14] This differed from the standard BUCS structure of five geographical regions below Premier level.[15] The Premier and Tier 1 divisions were considered to be of "high performance" by the BAFA and BUCS.[citation needed] For the 2023–2024 season, the Tier 1 regional divisions were Scottish, Northern, Midlands, Southern, South Western, and South Eastern, while the Tier 2 regional divisions were Northern A, Northern B, Midlands, Southern, South Western, and South Eastern.[16]

Over the course of the regular season, each team in the Premier and Tier 1 played between eight regular season games. Each team played everyone in their division twice; once home and once away. For the 2016/17 season, Tier 2 was broken down into six conferences, five of seven teams and one (South East) of eight; teams in Tier 2 playee a six-game season (seven in the South East division), playing each other only once.[14]

Earlier structures

The first two full seasons of BUCS American Football preserved the single tier, eight conference structure inherited from BUAFL. In 2014–15, this was changed to a two tier system with the formation of two Premier divisions (North and South), each of five teams. The eight regional conferences, slightly reorganised (in particular, the small Scottish conference became the more balanced Borders conference, including teams from northern England) to contain 8 or 9 teams each, became the second tier. At the same time the Championship was reduced to the top two teams from each Premier division and the Challenge trophy was replaced with cup competitions for North and South Tier 1 divisional winners, with the winners being promoted to the appropriate Premier division.[15]

For the 2015–16 season, the league was split in three tiers. The premier remained organised into North and South, although the top four (of five) in each division now entered the Championship playoff, with the fifth being relegated. The second tier contained 6 geographic division, three Northern (Scottish North, Northern and Midlands) and three Southern (Western, South and Southeastern). The Trophy playoffs took the top two from each division plus the top two remaining teams with the best record from the northern and southern regions, the playoffs were structured with a "northern semi-final" and a "southern semi-final", with the semi-final winners promoted to the respective Premier division regardless of the result in the final. The third tier was organised into 8 divisions, four Northern (Scottish North, Northern, Midlands and North Midlands) and four Southern (Western, South, Southeastern and London).[15][17] The major change for the 2016–17 season was the reduction to six divisions (and a consequent increase in the number of teams per division) in the third tier (Tier 2), although not fully matching the geographical regions in the second tier (Tier 1).[14]

League results

2023-24 regular season standings

Championship qualification is shaded in green – there was no relegation in this season due to the league reorganisation; position in the Championship bracket is based on final positions in the two divisions. League position is based on number of points scored, with 2 points for a win, 1 point for a tie and 0 points for a loss. Team names shaded in blue indicate promotion to the Premier National.

Premier North[18]
Team W L T PCT PF PA Pts
Nottingham Gold 8 0 0 1.000 246 54 16
Leeds Beckett Carnegie 5 2 0 0.714 198 43 10
Durham Saints 4 3 0 0.571 133 78 8
Loughborough Students 2 6 0 0.250 94 193 4
Newcastle Raiders 0 8 0 0.000 39 342 0
Premier South[19]
Team W L T PCT PF PA Pts
UWE Bullets 8 0 0 1.000 486 0 16
SGS Pride 6 2 0 0.750 237 66 10
Birmingham Lions 2 6 0 0.250 68 319 4.2
Portsmouth Destroyers 2 6 0 0.250 73 279 4.1
Cardiff Cobras 2 6 0 0.250 100 300 4

2022-23 regular season standings

Championship qualification is shaded in green, and relegation is shaded in red; position in the Championship bracket is based on final positions in the two divisions. League position is based on number of points scored, with 2 points for a win, 1 point for a tie and 0 points for a loss

Premier North[20]
Team W L T PCT PF PA Pts
Nottingham Gold 7 1 0 0.875 332 57 14
Leeds Beckett Carnegie 7 1 0 0.875 311 50 14
Durham Saints 3 5 0 0.375 83 196 6
Newcastle Raiders 3 5 0 0.375 133 185 6
Stirling Clansmen 0 8 0 0.000 8 379 0
Premier South[21]
Team W L T PCT PF PA Pts
UWE Bullets 8 0 0 1.000 604 28 16
SGS Pride 6 2 0 0.750 338 106 12
Birmingham Lions 4 4 0 0.500 107 263 8
UEA Pirates 2 6 0 0.250 33 407 4
Cardiff Cobras 0 8 0 0.000 24 302 0

Pirates relegated to South East division after losing in the first round of the playoffs; Cobras remained in Premier South.

2021-22 regular season standings

Championship qualification is shaded in green, and relegation is shaded in red; position in the Championship bracket is based on final positions in the two divisions. League position is based on number of points scored, with 2 points for a win, 1 point for a tie and 0 points for a loss

Premier North[22]
Team W L T PCT PF PA Pts
Nottingham Gold 7 1 0 0.875 309 72 14
Leeds Beckett Carnegie 6 2 0 0.750 239 163 12
Durham Saints 5 3 0 0.625 207 147 10
Stirling Clansmen 2 6 0 0.250 93 239 4
Leeds Gryphons 0 8 0 0.000 10 237 -2[23]
Premier South[24]
Team W L T PCT PF PA Pts
UWE Bullets 8 0 0 1.000 417 0 16
Birmingham Lions 6 2 0 0.750 204 143 12
Cardiff Cobras 3 5 0 0.375 117 239 6
UEA Pirates 2 6 0 0.250 80 229 4
Swansea Titans 1 7 0 0.125 26 233 0

2019-20 regular season standings

The 2019-20 regular season was completed prior to the suspension of university sports due to Covid-19, although only the first-round (quarter final) matches of the post-season were played and thus no overall champion was named.[25]

Championship qualification is shaded in green, and relegation is shaded in red; position in the Championship bracket is based on final positions in the two divisions. League position is based on number of points scored, with 2 points for a win, 1 point for a tie and 0 points for a loss

Premier North[26]
Team W L T PCT PF PA Pts
Durham Saints 6 2 0 0.750 12
Stirling Clansmen 6 2 0 0.750 12
Nottingham Gold 4 4 0 0.500 8
Leeds Beckett Carnegie 4 4 0 0.500 8
Coventry Jets 0 8 0 0.000 0
Premier South[27]
Team W L T PCT PF PA Pts
UWE Bullets 7 1 0 0.875 14
Birmingham Lions 7 1 0 0.875 14
Swansea Titans 2 5 1 0.250 5
UEA Pirates 2 6 0 0.250 4
Hertfordshire Hurricanes 1 6 1 0.125 3

2018-19 regular season standings

Championship qualification is shaded in green, and relegation is shaded in red; position in the Championship bracket is based on final positions in the two divisions. League position is based on number of points scored, with 2 points for a win, 1 point for a tie and 0 points for a loss

Premier North[28]
Team W L T PCT PF PA Pts
Nottingham Gold 8 0 0 1.000 204 42 16
Leeds Beckett Carnegie 5 3 0 0.625 194 130 10
Durham Saints 4 4 0 0.500 152 113 8
Stirling Clansmen 3 5 0 0.375 138 159 6
Derby Braves 0 8 0 0.000 33 277 0
Premier South[29]
Team W L T PCT PF PA Pts
UWE Bullets 6 2 0 0.750 212 134 12
Swansea Titans 5 3 0 0.625 174 119 10
Birmingham Lions 5 3 0 0.625 198 190 10
Hertfordshire Hurricanes 3 4 0 0.429 155 144 6
Portsmouth Destroyers 0 7 0 0.000 46 198 0

2017–18 final standings

Championship qualification is shaded in green, and relegation is shaded in red; position in the Championship bracket is based on final positions in the two divisions. League position is based on number of points scored, with 2 points for a win, 1 point for a tie and 0 points for a loss

Premier North[30]
Team W L T PCT PF PA Pts
Durham Saints 7 0 0 1.000 190 63 14
Stirling Clansmen 4 3 0 0.571 174 117 8
Leeds Beckett 4 4 0 0.500 124 164 8
Derby Braves 3 5 0 0.375 167 140 6
Loughborough Students 1 7 0 0.125 46 217 2
Premier South[29]
Team W L T PCT PF PA Pts
Birmingham Lions 7 1 0 0.875 276 156 14
Hertfordshire Hurricanes 6 2 0 0.750 205 133 12
Swansea Titans 3 3 0 0.500 180 121 16
Portsmouth Destroyers 2 4 0 0.333 104 133 4
Bath Killer Bees 0 8 0 0.000 68 290 0

2016–17 final standings

Championship qualification is shaded in green, and relegation is shaded in red; position in the Championship bracket is based on final positions in the two divisions. League position is based on number of points scored, with 2 points for a win, 1 point for a tie and 0 points for a loss

Premier North[31]
Team W L T PCT PF PA Pts
Stirling Clansmen 6 2 0 0.750 204 122 12
Loughborough Students 6 2 0 0.750 95 86 12
Derby Braves 4 4 0 0.500 142 180 8
Durham Saints 3 5 0 0.375 88 38 6[32]
Nottingham Trent Renegades 1 7 0 0.125 74 167 2
Premier South[33]
Team W L T PCT PF PA Pts
Hertfordshire Hurricanes 7 1 0 0.875 206 91 14
Birmingham Lions 5 3 0 0.625 175 114 10
Swansea Titans 5 3 0 0.625 159 138 10
Bath Killer Bees 2 6 0 0.375 83 135 4
Kingston Cougars 1 7 0 0.125 90 149 2

2015–16 final standings

Championship qualification is shaded in green, and relegation is shaded in red; position in the Championship bracket is based on final positions in the two divisions. League position is based on number of points scored, with 2 points for a win, 1 point for a tie and 0 points for a loss

Premier North[34]
Team W L T PCT PF PA Pts
Stirling Clansmen 8 0 0 1.000 268 88 16
Durham Saints 5 2 0 0.714 189 132 10[35]
Derby Braves 4 4 0 0.500 144 163 8
Loughborough Students 2 6 0 0.250 104 160 10
Hallam Warriors 0 7 0 0.000 62 224 0[35]
Premier South[36]
Team W L T PCT PF PA Pts
Birmingham Lions 8 0 0 1.000 232 45 16
Hertfordshire Hurricanes 5 3 0 0.625 190 109 10
Kingston Cougars 4 4 0 0.500 102 134 8
Bath Killer Bees 3 5 0 0.375 143 163 6
Imperial Immortals 0 8 0 0.000 46 262 0

2014–15 final standings

Championship qualification is shaded in green, and relegation is shaded in red; position in the Championship bracket is based on final positions in the two divisions. League position is based on number of points scored, with 2 points for a win, 1 point for a tie and 0 points for a loss

Premier North[37]
Team W L T PCT PF PA Pts
Durham Saints 7 1 0 0.875 233 119 14
Stirling Clansmen 6 2 0 0.750 271 68 12
Loughborough Students 5 3 0 0.625 178 150 10
Derby Braves 1 7 0 0.125 68 211 2
Sheffield Sabres 1 7 0 0.125 60 262 0[38]
Premier South[39]
Team W L T PCT PF PA Pts
Birmingham Lions 7 1 0 0.875 259 30 14
Hertfordshire Hurricanes 7 1 0 0.875 275 56 14
Bath Killer Bees 4 4 0 0.500 140 170 8
Imperial Immortals 2 6 0 0.250 50 133 2[40]
Brighton Tsunami 0 8 0 0.000 15 350 0

2013–14 final standings

Championship qualification is shaded in green, and trophy qualification is shaded in orange. Seeding is based on number of points scored, with 2 points for a win, 1 point for a tie and 0 points for a loss

Saltire (Scottish)[41]
Team W L T PCT PF PA Pts
Stirling Clansmen 8 0 0 1.000 622 13 16
Glasgow Tigers 5 3 0 0.625 176 264 10
Edinburgh Predators 4 4 0 0.500 130 201 8
Edinburgh Napier Knights 3 5 0 0.375 125 244 6
UWS Pyros 0 8 0 0.000 42 373 0
Big North Western (BNWC)[42]
Team W L T PCT PF PA Pts
Sheffield Sabres 7 1 0 0.875 197 61 14
Derby Braves 7 1 0 0.875 320 42 14
Hallam Warriors 7 1 0 0.875 274 96 14
LJMU Fury 6 2 0 0.750 246 129 12
UCLan Rams 5 3 0 0.625 254 90 10
Bangor MudDogs 3 5 0 0.375 140 208 6
MMU Eagles 3 5 0 0.375 121 193 6
Lancaster Bombers 3 5 0 0.375 174 294 6
Staffordshire Stallions 2 6 0 0.250 140 229 4
Manchester Tyrants 0 7 0 0.000 61 200 0
Keele Crusaders 0 7 0 0.000 6 386 0
North Eastern (NEC)[43]
Team W L T PCT PF PA Pts
Durham Saints 7 0 0 1.000 316 41 14
Sunderland Spartans 7 1 0 .875 229 115 14
Leeds Carnegie 6 2 0 .750 135 59 12
Hull Sharks 6 2 0 .750 155 87 12
Newcastle Raiders 5 3 0 .625 140 134 10
York Centurions 4 4 0 .500 140 215 8
Northumbria Mustangs 3 5 0 .375 104 114 6
Huddersfield Hawks 2 5 0 .286 146 144 4
Leeds Celtics 2 6 0 .250 100 162 4
Bradford Bears 1 7 0 .125 42 187 2
Teesside Cougars 0 8 0 .000 69 312 0
Midlands Athletics (MAC)[44]
Team W L T PCT PF PA Pts
Birmingham Lions 8 0 0 1.000 206 21 16
Loughborough Students 7 1 0 .875 340 76 14
NTU Renegades 6 2 0 .750 214 117 12
Nottingham 4 4 0 .500 122 99 8
Warwick Wolves 4 4 0 .500 193 145 8
Coventry Jets 3 4 0 .429 149 190 6
DMU Falcons 3 5 0 .375 87 176 6
Worcester Royals 3 5 0 .375 77 213 6
Lincoln Colonials 3 4 0 .429 52 113 6
Wolverhampton Wildcats 1 6 0 .143 58 153 2
South Western Athletics (SWAC)[45]
Team W L T PCT PF PA Pts
Bath Killer Bees 7 0 0 1.000 253 47 14
UWE Bullets 6 1 0 .857 211 65 12
Swansea Titans 6 1 0 .857 288 88 12
Exeter Demons 4 3 0 .571 198 175 8
Gloucester Gladiators 3 4 0 .429 63 97 6
Cardiff Cobras 2 3 0 .400 81 86 4
Plymouth Blitz 1 3 0 .250 56 141 2
Tarannau Aberystwyth 1 5 0 .166 88 127 2
Bristol Barracuda 1 6 0 .143 89 210 2
Bath Spa Bulldogs 0 5 0 .000 13 322 0
Oyster Card (London)[46]
Team W L T PCT PF PA Pts
Imperial Immortals 8 0 0 1.000 145 36 16
Kingston Cougars 7 1 0 .875 186 21 14
Royal Holloway Bears 6 2 0 .750 228 82 12
Brunel Burners 5 3 0 .625 224 80 10
King's College Regents 4 4 0 .500 87 141 8
Greenwich Mariners 3 5 0 .375 97 172 6
Westminster Dragons 1 6 0 .143 60 142 2
London City Sentinels 0 8 0 .000 24 320 0
LSBU Spartans 1 6 0 .143 38 106 −2**
South Coast (SCC)[47]
Team W L T PCT PF PA Pts
Brighton Tsunami 8 0 0 1.000 236 40 16
Southampton Stags 7 1 0 .875 236 48 14
Portsmouth Destroyers 6 2 0 .750 197 47 12
Surrey Stingers 5 3 0 .625 82 106 10
OBU Panthers 4 4 0 .500 96 103 8
Reading Knights 2 5 0 .286 86 155 4
Solent Redhawks 2 6 0 .250 209 217 4
Sussex Saxons 1 6 0 .143 102 218 2
Oxford Lancers 0 8 0 .000 31 294 0
South Central (SCC)[48]
Team W L T PCT PF PA Pts
Hertfordshire Hurricanes 8 0 0 1.000 384 6 16
Cambridge Pythons 7 1 0 .875 243 67 14
Kent Falcons 5 2 0 .714 122 65 10
UEA Pirates 5 3 0 .625 142 65 10
Northampton Nemesis 4 3 0 .571 129 158 8
BNU Buccaneers 3 5 0 .375 67 143 6
Canterbury Chargers 1 6 0 .143 46 180 2
Anglia Ruskin Rhinos 1 7 0 .125 42 224 2
Essex Blades 0 7 0 .000 13 270 0

2012–13 final standings

Championship qualification is shaded in green, and trophy qualification is shaded in orange. Seeding is based on number of points scored, with 1 point for a win, 0 points for a tie and 0 points for a loss

Saltire (Scottish)[49]
Team W L T PCT PF PA Pts
Stirling Clansmen 8 0 0 1.000 8
Glasgow Tigers 6 2 0 0.750 6
Edinburgh Predators 2 4 0 0.333 2
UWS Pyros 2 5 0 0.286 2
Edinburgh Napier Knights 0 7 0 0.000 0
Big North Western (BNWC)[49]
Team W L T PCT PF PA Pts
Derby Braves 8 0 0 1.000 8
Sheffield Sabres 7 1 0 0.875 7
Manchester Tyrants 6 2 0 0.750 6
UCLan Rams 5 3 0 0.625 5
Hallam Warriors 3 3 0 0.500 3
Staffordshire Stallions 2 5 0 0.286 2
LJMU Fury 2 4 0 0.250 2
Lancaster Bombers 2 5 0 0.285 2
Huddersfield Hawks 2 6 0 0.250 2
MMU Eagles 2 6 0 0.250 2
Bangor MudDogs 1 5 0 0.167 1
North Eastern (NEC)[49]
Team W L T PCT PF PA Pts
Hull Sharks 7 0 0 1.000 7
Leeds Carnegie 6 2 0 0.750 6
Newcastle Raiders 5 3 0 0.625 5
Bradford Bears 4 4 0 0.500 4
Leeds Celtics 4 3 0 0.571 4
Sunderland Spartans 3 4 0 0.429 3
Northumbria Mustangs 2 5 0 0.286 104 114 2
Durham Saints 2 3 0 0.400 2
Teesside Cougars 1 6 0 0.143 1
York Centurions 1 5 0 0.167 1
Midlands Athletics (MAC)[49]
Team W L T PCT PF PA Pts
Birmingham Lions 8 0 0 1.000 8
Loughborough Students 7 1 0 0.875 7
NTU Renegades 6 2 0 0.750 6
Warwick Wolves 6 1 0 0.857 6
Coventry Jets 3 3 0 0.500 3
Northampton Nemesis 3 4 0 0.429 3
Nottingham 2 5 0 0.286 2
Leicester 2 5 0 0.286 2
Lincoln Colonials 1 7 0 0.125 1
DMU Falcons 1 6 0 0.143 1
Wolverhampton Wildcats 0 5 0 0.000 0
Western[49]
Team W L T PCT PF PA Pts
Bath Killer Bees 8 0 0 1.000 8
Gloucester Gladiators 6 2 0 0.750 6
UWE Bullets 6 1 0 0.857 6
Swansea Titans 5 3 0 0.625 5
Plymouth Blitz 4 3 0 0.571 4
Exeter Demons 3 5 0 0.375 3
Tarannau Aberystwyth 3 3 0 0.500 3
Bristol Barracuda 2 5 0 0.286 2
Cardiff Cobras 1 4 0 0.200 1
Bath Spa Bulldogs 0 6 0 0.000 0
Worcester Royals 0 5 0 0.000 0
South Eastern A[49]
Team W L T PCT PF PA Pts
Hertfordshire Hurricanes 8 0 0 1.000 8
Cambridge Pythons 5 1 0 0.833 5
UEA Pirates 4 2 0 0.667 4
Kent Falcons 3 1 0 0.750 3
Essex Blades 3 2 0 0.600 3
Imperial Immortals 3 2 0 0.600 3
Westminster Dragons 2 3 0 0.400 2
Canterbury Chargers 2 4 0 0.333 2
Anglia Ruskin Rhinos 1 4 0 0.200 1
Greenwich Mariners 1 6 0 0.143 1
King's College Regents 0 4 0 0.000 0
LSBU Spartans 0 3 0 0.000 0
South Eastern B[49]
Team W L T PCT PF PA Pts
Portsmouth Destroyers 7 1 0 0.875 7
Kingston Cougars 7 1 0 0.875 7
Southampton Stags 6 2 0 0.750 6
Brighton Tsunami 5 3 0 0.625 5
BNU Buccaneers 4 2 0 0.667 4
Brunel Burners 4 3 0 0.571 4
Solent Redhawks 3 5 0 0.375 3
Reading Knights 3 3 0 0.500 3
OBU Panthers 2 5 0 0.286 2
Surrey Stingers 2 5 0 0.286 2
Royal Holloway Bears 0 7 0 0.000 0
Oxford Lancers 0 6 0 0.000 0

National championship

Most wins
Team Champions Runners-up
Birmingham Lions 4 3
Stirling Clansmen 3 1
UWE Bullets 3 0
Hertfordshire Hurricanes 1 3
Durham Saints 1 2
Southampton Stags 1 0
Portsmouth Destroyers 1 0
Leeds Beckett Carnegie 1 0
Nottingham Gold 0 2
Staffordshire Stallions 0 1
Newcastle Raiders 0 1
Loughborough Aces 0 1
Derby Braves 0 1
Championship games
Season Winning team Losing team notes
2007–2008 Southampton Stags 54 Staffordshire Stallions 20
2008–2009 Birmingham Lions 42 Newcastle Raiders 2
2009–2010 Birmingham Lions 27 Loughborough Aces 16
2010–2011 Portsmouth Destroyers 20 Birmingham Lions 19
2011–2012 Hertfordshire Hurricanes 37 Birmingham Lions 19
2012–2013[50] Birmingham Lions 17 Hertfordshire Hurricanes 13 First BUCS championship
2013–2014[51] Stirling Clansmen 20 Birmingham Lions 15
2014–2015[52] Stirling Clansmen 46 Hertfordshire Hurricanes 6
2015–2016[53] Birmingham Lions 19 Stirling Clansmen 13
2016–2017[54] Stirling Clansmen 10 Durham Saints 7 MVP: SC QB Andres Donat
2017–2018[55] Durham Saints 17 Derby Braves 6
2018-2019[56] Leeds Beckett Carnegie 57 Hertfordshire Hurricanes 13 MVP: LBC S Tyler Broad
2021-2022[57] UWE Bullets 28 Nottingham Gold 21 MVP: UWE CB Brian Peavy[citation needed]
2022–2023[58] UWE Bullets 34 Nottingham Gold 27
2023–2024[59] UWE Bullets 52 Durham Saints 0 MVP: Danny Crane

Challenge trophy, divisional cups, and national trophy

The challenge trophy was replaced by the two divisional cups for the transitional 2014–15 season, which were replaced in turn by the national trophy from 2015–16.

Trophy games
Season Winning team Losing team Notes
2008–2009 Bath Killer Bees 13 Sheffield Hallam Warriors 8
2009–2010 Greenwich Mariners 12 Stirling Clansmen 0
2010–2011 Cardiff Cobras 20 UCH Sharks 0
2011–2012 Sheffield Sabres 25 Bath Killer Bees 8
2012–2013[60] NTU Renegades 42 Southampton Stags 28 MVP: NTU QB Danny Miller
2013–2014[61] Swansea Titans 38 Royal Holloway Bears 12 MVP: ST QB Simon George
2014–2015 (North)[62] Sheffield Hallam Warriors 26 Glasgow Tigers 6 Sheffield Hallam promoted to Premier North
2014–2015 (South)[63] Kingston Cougars 42 Surrey Stingers 9 Kingston promoted to Premier South
2015–2016[64] Swansea Titans 21 NTU Renegades 16 Swansea promoted to Premier South, NTU promoted to Premier North
2016–2017[65] Leeds Beckett Carnegie 28 Portsmouth Destroyers 7 MVP: LBC QB Chris Winrow, Carnegie promoted to Premier North, Portsmouth promoted to Premier South
2017–2018 Nottingham 43 UWE Bullets 0 Nottingham promoted to Premier North, UWE promoted to Premier South
2018–2019[66] Coventry Jets 26 UEA Pirates 0 Coventry promoted to Premier North, UEA Promoted to Premier South
2021–2022[67] SGS Pride 21 Newcastle Raiders 8 Newcastle promoted to Premier North, SGS Promoted to Premier South
2022–2023[68] Loughborough Students 29 Portsmouth Destroyers 0 Loughborough promoted to Premier North, Portsmouth Promoted to Premier South
2023–2024[69] Exeter Demons 37 NTU Renegades 26 NTU promoted to Premier North (among with others under league reorganisation), Exeter promoted to Premier South

Most valuable player awards

Most valuable player (MVP) awards have been given out sporadically at best. There has been no central committee to give MVP awards since at least the 2015–2016 season.

Season League MVP Offensive MVP Defensive MVP
2008–2009 Tristan Varney (Birmingham Lions) Ed Butcher (Southampton Stags)
2009–2010 David Saul (Sheffield Hallam Warriors) Tristan Varney (Birmingham Lions) Ed Butcher (Solent Redhawks)
2010–2011 Adam Hope (Loughborough Aces) Russ Waddell (Bristol Barracuda)
2011–2012 Joe Thompson (Hertfordshire Hurricanes)
2012–2013 Dan Conroy (Birmingham Lions)

References

  1. ^ "BUCS American Football 23–24 National Championship". BUCS.
  2. ^ "BSAFA Operations Suspended". British American Football Association. 25 July 2007. Archived from the original on 24 July 2008. Retrieved 12 May 2009.
  3. ^ "BAFA Launches BUAFL". British American Football Association. 25 July 2007. Archived from the original on 24 July 2008. Retrieved 12 May 2009.
  4. ^ Ben Halls (30 September 2016). "Riding the Second Wave: The Resurrection of the NFL in the UK". VICE Sports. Archived from the original on 30 October 2016. Retrieved 29 October 2016. As any wannabe dictator will tell you, revolution simply cannot happen without grassroots action. That is it true in sport, too. For American football, that movement came not from the NFL itself, but was home-grown at British universities.
  5. ^ "NFL announces partnership with BUAFL". 12 November 2008. Archived from the original on 8 January 2011.
  6. ^ "American Football - British Universities & Colleges Sport". Archived from the original on 12 September 2014. Retrieved 11 March 2013.
  7. ^ Zander Swinburne (1 February 2014). "Super Bowl 2014: Move over, Wayne Rooney – gridiron's here". The Independent. The British Universities American Football League (BUAFL) had 42 teams before the first Wembley game in 2007 and 2,460 participants; now 75 universities are registered, with more than 4,100 players, coaches and officials
  8. ^ "BUCS and Football America Sign Three Year Partnership". BUCS. 30 September 2024. Retrieved 4 October 2024. BUCS' American Football programme in 2024-2025 will see 79 teams from 77 institutions take part, with more than 4,000 students playing the sport.
  9. ^ Lara Wildenberg (13 August 2024). "Taylor Swift fuels flag football fever at UK universities". The Times.
  10. ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4xbOY5BSUY&ab_channel=Sportank
  11. ^ https://sportank.com/media/post/every-uniball-team-graded-every-team-every-division
  12. ^ Chris Tabbutt (22 April 2024). "BUCS National League Confirmed: Who is on the Move?". Sportank.
  13. ^ "BUCS American Football 24-25". BUCS. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  14. ^ a b c "#BUCSball Conference Structures Released!". 26 August 2016. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
  15. ^ a b c "American Football – Moving to three tiers". BUCS. 9 June 2015. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
  16. ^ "BUCS American Football 23-24". BUCS. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  17. ^ "BUCS American Football 2015–16". BUCS. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
  18. ^ "BUCScore - BUCS American Football 2023-24 - Premier North - Mixed". BUCS. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  19. ^ "BUCScore - BUCS American Football 2023-24 - Premier South - Mixed". BUCS. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  20. ^ "BUCScore - BUCS American Football 2022-23 - Premier North - Mixed". BUCS. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  21. ^ "BUCScore - BUCS American Football 2022-23 - Premier South - Mixed". BUCS. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  22. ^ "BUCScore - BUCS American Football 2021-22 - Premier North - Mixed". BUCS. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  23. ^ Penalised 2 points for conceding a walkover against Durham
  24. ^ "BUCScore - BUCS American Football 2021-22 - Premier South - Mixed". BUCS. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  25. ^ "BUCS American Football 19-20 Championship". BUCS. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  26. ^ "BUCS American Football 19-20 Premier North". BUCS. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  27. ^ "BUCS American Football 19-20 Premier South". BUCS. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  28. ^ "BUCScore - BUCS American Football 2018-19 - Premier North - Mixed". BUCS. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
  29. ^ a b "BUCS American Football 2018–2019 – Premier South". BUCS. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
  30. ^ "BUCS American Football 2017–2018 – Premier North". BUCS. Archived from the original on 13 September 2017. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
  31. ^ "BUCS American Football 2016–2017 – Premier North". BUCS. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
  32. ^ First five matches of season awarded as involuntary walkovers to opposition due to fielding an ineligible player
  33. ^ "BUCS American Football 2016–2017 – Premier South". BUCS. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
  34. ^ "BUCS American Football 2015–2016 – Premier North". BUCS. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
  35. ^ a b Sheffield Hallam vs Durham match void
  36. ^ "BUCS American Football 2015–2016 – Premier South". BUCS. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
  37. ^ "BUCS American Football 2014–2015 – Premier North". BUCS. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
  38. ^ Penalised 2 points for conceding walkover vs Durham
  39. ^ "BUCS American Football 2014–2015 – Premier South". BUCS. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
  40. ^ Penalised 2 points for conceding walkover vs Birmingham
  41. ^ "BUCS American Football 2013–2014 – Scottish". BUCS. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
  42. ^ "BUCS American Football 2013–2014 – North Western". BUCS. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
  43. ^ "BUCS American Football 2013–2014 – North Eastern". BUCS. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
  44. ^ "BUCS American Football 2013–2014 – Midlands". BUCS. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
  45. ^ "BUCS American Football 2013–2014 – Western". BUCS. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
  46. ^ "BUCS American Football 2013–2014 – South Eastern B". BUCS. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
  47. ^ "BUCS American Football 2013–2014 – South". BUCS. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
  48. ^ "BUCS American Football 2013–2014 – South Eastern A". BUCS. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
  49. ^ a b c d e f g "BUCS American Football 2012–2013 – Trophy – Men's". BUCS. Linked Leagues. Archived from the original on 15 September 2016.
  50. ^ "BUCS American Football 2012–2013 – Championship – Men's". BUCS. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
  51. ^ "BUCS American Football 2013–2014 – Championship – Men's". BUCS. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
  52. ^ "BUCS American Football 2014–2015 – Championship – Mixed". BUCS. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
  53. ^ "BUCS American Football 2015–2016 – Championship – Mixed". BUCS. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
  54. ^ "Clansmen hold out at the death to win third championship in four years". Brig Newspaper. 27 March 2017.
  55. ^ "BUCS Finals Day 2018". Football America UK. 3 April 2018. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
  56. ^ "BUCScore - BUCS American Football 2018-19 - Championship - Mixed". BUCS. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
  57. ^ "BUCS American Football 21–22 National Championship". BUCS. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  58. ^ "BUCS American Football 22–23 National Championship". BUCS. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  59. ^ "BUCS American Football 23–24 National Championship". BUCS. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  60. ^ "BUCS American Football 2012–2013 – Trophy – Men's". BUCS. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
  61. ^ "BUCS American Football 2013–2014 – Trophy – Men's". BUCS. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
  62. ^ "BUCS American Football 2014–2015 – North Divisional Cup – Mixed". BUCS. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
  63. ^ "BUCS American Football 2014–2015 – South Divisional Cup – Mixed". BUCS. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
  64. ^ "BUCS American Football 2015–2016 – Trophy – Mixed". BUCS. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
  65. ^ "BUCScore - BUCS American Football 2016-2017 - Trophy - Mixed". BUCS. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
  66. ^ "BUCScore - BUCS American Football 2018-19 - Trophy - Mixed". BUCS. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
  67. ^ "BUCS American Football 21–22 National Trophy". BUCS. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  68. ^ "BUCS American Football 22–23 National Trophy". BUCS. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  69. ^ "BUCS American Football 23–24 National Trophy". BUCS. Retrieved 4 October 2024.