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British Universities American Football League

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British Universities American Football League
FormerlyBritish Collegiate American Football League (1986–2007)
SportAmerican football
Founded2007
CommissionerTonye Dokubo
Organising bodyBritish Universities and Colleges Sport
Divisions4 with a total of 15 conferences
No. of teams79 (2024–25 season)
Country United Kingdom
ConfederationBritish American Football Association
Most recent
champions
Durham Saints
(2nd title)[1]
Most titlesBirmingham Lions
(5 titles)
Hertfordshire Hurricanes
(5 titles)
UWE Bullets
(5 titles)
Streaming partnerSportank
Websitewww.bucs.org.uk/

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] In mid-2025, Christopher "Tebbs" Tebbutt a key media personality in British University American Football, started his own media outlet covering British American Football with the other hosts from "The Rundown" called DepthChartSports. Then forming a partnership with the Brunel University Burners to livestream all of their home games for the 2025/26 season.

Teams


Locations of BUAFL teams in London
List of BUAFL teams
University Team City Country Joined League Division
(Conference)
Aberdeen Bulls Aberdeen Scotland Scotland 2015 III
(1 Scottish)
Aberystwyth Tarannau Aberystwyth Wales Wales 1992 IV
(2 South Western)
ARU Siege Cambridge England England 2011 IV
(2 Midlands)
Bath Killer Bees Bath England England 1992 III
(1 South Western)
Bath Spa Bulldogs Bath England England 2007 IV
(2 South Western)
Birmingham Lions Birmingham England England 1989 III
(1 Southern)
Bournemouth Bobcats Bournemouth England England 2014 III
(1 South Western)
Brighton Panthers Brighton England England 2003 III
(1 South Eastern)
Bristol Barracuda Bristol England England 2007 III
(1 South Western)
Brunel Burners London England England 2010 II
(Premier South)
Cambridge Pythons Cambridge England England 1990 IV
(2 Midlands)
Cardiff Cobras Cardiff Wales Wales 1987 II
(Premier South)
Chichester Spitfires Chichester England England 2013 IV
(2 Southern)
Coventry Jets Coventry England England 2010 IV
(2 Midlands)
CSGU Wolfpack London England England 2013 IV
(2 South Eastern)
Derby Braves Derby England England 1996 III
(1 Midlands & Yorkshire)
DMU Lions Leicester England England 2011 IV
(2 Midlands)
Durham Saints Durham England England 2007 I
(National)
Edge Hill Vikings Ormskirk England England 2007 III
(1 Northern)
Edinburgh Mavericks Edinburgh Scotland Scotland 2009 III
(1 Scottish)
Edinburgh Napier Knights Edinburgh Scotland Scotland 2004 III
(1 Scottish)
Essex Blades Colchester England England 2001 IV
(1 South Eastern)
Exeter Demons Exeter England England 2009 II
(Premier South)
Glasgow Tigers Glasgow Scotland Scotland 1986 III
(1 Scottish)

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.

Playoffs

Premier National and Premier North & South

Playoffs were also changed for the 2024–25 season. The number of teams and qualification varied between tiers, with qualification being determined by regular season results. In the Premier National Division, the top 4 teams would enter into a seeded playoff for the National Championship. At the Premier North/South level, the top 4 teams from each of the two divisions would qualify for the National Vase. The top two teams within each division would also receive home-field advantages in the playoffs. The winner of the National Vase would play the 5th (last) placed team from Premier National, with the winner playing in Premier National the following season.

Tier 1 and 2 playoffs

The last placed teams in Premier North and Premier South are automatically relegated to the divisions below. Promotion from Tier 1 divisions was the same for both north and south teams who would compete in the National Trophy (the third level/tier of playoff competition). From each of the three southern and three northern divisions, the top two ranked teams would qualify, with the two best third-placed teams also qualifying. This makes eight teams from the south and eight teams from the north. The winners from the northern and southern halves of the playoff (i.e., both finalists) earn promotion to the corresponding Premier North or South division for the following season, regardless of which of them wins the National Trophy.

Tier 2 has a similar play-off qualification process to Tier 1 with the top two teams from each of the three northern and southern divisions qualifying automatically. The two best third-placed teams also qualify for their respective playoffs. In the south, the eight qualified teams compete for the Southern Conference Cup whilst the teams in the north play for the Northern Conference Cup. At this level there is no competition between conferences. Promotion between Tier 1 and Tier 2 is decided on regular season standings, as the six divisional winners from Tier 2 replace the last placed teams from each of the six Tier 1 divisions.

2024/25

The teams allocated to the premier divisions at the start of the 2024–2025 season were:[12][13]

Premier divisions

National
NorthSouth

Tier 1 divisions

ScottishNorthernMidlands and Yorkshire
SouthernSouth EastSouth West

Tier 2 Divisions

North WesternNorth EasternMidlands
SouthernSouth WesternSouth 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. 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

2024-25 season results

All match results and playoff brackets can be found on the BUCS American football website.[18]

Purple indicates playoff qualification.

Premier National
Team W L T PCT PF PA Pts
UWE Bullets (C) 7100.8754666314
Nottingham Gold 6200.7503089012
Durham Saints 5300.62522220010
Loughborough Students 2600.2501132614
Leeds Beckett Carnegie (O) 0800.000393420

C = national champions.

O = promotion playoff winners: SGS Pride won the National Vase but conceded the promotion playoff game, thus Leeds Beckett retained Premier National status.

Premier North
Team W L T PCT PF PA Pts
Warwick Wolves 7100.8752168014
Leeds Gryphons 6200.75028410612
NTU Renegades 4400.5001711358
Newcastle Raiders 2600.250602684
Liverpool (R) 1700.125471890
Premier South
Team W L T PCT PF PA Pts
SGS Pride (C) 8001.0002412816
Portsmouth Destroyers 5300.62517912610
Exeter Demons 4400.5001222048
Cardiff Cobras 2600.2501342064
Birmingham Open (R) 1700.125892010

C = National Vase champions. R = relegated to tier 1

Tier 1 and below

National Trophy
First Round
Home team (Seed) Score Away team (Seed)
Southern results:
Bournemouth (1) 17-0 Bath (8)
Brunel (2) 42-0 UEA (7)
KCL (3) 0-20 Bristol (6)
Kent (4) 3-0 Hertfordshire (5)
Northern results:
Edinburgh Napier (1) 27-0 Edinburgh (8)
Northumbria (2) 28-6 Leicester (7)
Nottingham Green (3) 6-23 Sheffield Hallam (6)
UCLAN (4) 10-13 Stirling (5)
Quarter finals
Home team (Seed) Score Away team (Seed)
Southern results:
Bournemouth (1) 22-0 Kent (4)
Brunel (2) 58-6 Bristol (6)
Northern results:
Edinburgh Napier (1) 33-14 Sterling (5)
Northumbria (2) 21-15 Sheffield Hallam (6)

Conference finals (i.e. semi-finals) and National Trophy final

Home team (seed) Score Away team (seed) Notes
Bournemouth (1) 6-13 Brunel (2) Brunel win the Southern conference and are promoted to Premier South
Edinburgh Napier (1) 13-32 Northumbria (2) Northumbria win the Northern conference and are promoted to Premier North
Brunel (2) 24-12 Northumbria (2) Brunel win the National Vase
Tier 2 - Southern and Northern conference cups
Teams
Division Divisional winners 2nd placed teams 3rd placed teams (wild card)*
Southern tier 2 Oxford Brookes Sussex (Did not Qualify)
South West tier 2 Plymouth UWE 2's Aberystwyth
South East tier 2 Kingston Queen Mary Greenwich
North West tier 2 Edge Hill Lancaster (Did not Qualify)
Midlands tier 2 Derby Lincoln Cambridge
North East tier 2 Sheffield York Sunderland

Only the best two out of three third-placed teams qualify.

Divisional winners promoted to tier 1 for the following season.

Conference cups
Southern Northern
Home team Score Away team Home team Score Away team
Quarter finals:
Oxford Brookes W/O Aberystwyth Sheffield 21-7 Sunderland
UWE 2's 18-28 Queen Mary Lancaster 11-21 York
Plymouth 33-0 Greenwich Derby W/O Cambridge
Kingston 9-26 Sussex Edge Hill 26-13 Lincoln
Semi finals:
Oxford Brookes 42-0 Queen Mary Sheffield 16-10 York
Plymouth 21-6 Sussex Derby 40-0 Edge Hill
Final:
Oxford Brookes 20-14 Plymouth Sheffield 29-6 Derby

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[19]
Team W L T PCT PF PA Pts
Nottingham Gold 8001.0002465416
Leeds Beckett Carnegie 5200.7141984310
Durham Saints 4300.571133788
Loughborough Students 2600.250941934
Newcastle Raiders 0800.000393420
Premier South[20]
Team W L T PCT PF PA Pts
UWE Bullets 8001.000486016
SGS Pride 6200.7502376610
Birmingham Lions 2600.250683194.2
Portsmouth Destroyers 2600.250732794.1
Cardiff Cobras 2600.2501003004

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[21]
Team W L T PCT PF PA Pts
Nottingham Gold 7100.8753325714
Leeds Beckett Carnegie 7100.8753115014
Durham Saints 3500.375831966
Newcastle Raiders 3500.3751331856
Stirling Clansmen 0800.00083790
Premier South[22]
Team W L T PCT PF PA Pts
UWE Bullets 8001.0006042816
SGS Pride 6200.75033810612
Birmingham Lions 4400.5001072638
UEA Pirates 2600.250334074
Cardiff Cobras 0800.000243020

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[23]
Team W L T PCT PF PA Pts
Nottingham Gold 7100.8753097214
Leeds Beckett Carnegie 6200.75023916312
Durham Saints 5300.62520714710
Stirling Clansmen 2600.250932394
Leeds Gryphons 0800.00010237-2[24]
Premier South[25]
Team W L T PCT PF PA Pts
UWE Bullets 8001.000417016
Birmingham Lions 6200.75020414312
Cardiff Cobras 3500.3751172396
UEA Pirates 2600.250802294
Swansea Titans 1700.125262330

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.[26]

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[27]
Team W L T PCT PF PA Pts
Durham Saints 6200.7501475612
Stirling Clansmen 6200.7501149012
Nottingham Gold 4400.500157898
Leeds Beckett Carnegie 4400.5001211258
Coventry Jets 0800.00061850
Premier South[28]
Team W L T PCT PF PA Pts
UWE Bullets 7100.8753065014
Birmingham Lions 7100.8752346614
Swansea Titans 2510.250902055
UEA Pirates 2600.250522074
Hertfordshire Hurricanes 1610.125642183

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[29]
Team W L T PCT PF PA Pts
Nottingham Gold 8001.0002044216
Leeds Beckett Carnegie 5300.62519413010
Durham Saints 4400.5001521138
Stirling Clansmen 3500.3751381596
Derby Braves 0800.000332770
Premier South[30]
Team W L T PCT PF PA Pts
UWE Bullets 6200.75021213412
Swansea Titans 5300.62517411910
Birmingham Lions 5300.62519819010
Hertfordshire Hurricanes 3400.4291551446
Portsmouth Destroyers 0700.000461980

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[31]
Team W L T PCT PF PA Pts
Durham Saints 7001.0001906314
Stirling Clansmen 4300.5711741178
Leeds Beckett 4400.5001241648
Derby Braves 3500.3751671406
Loughborough Students 1700.125462172
Premier South[30]
Team W L T PCT PF PA Pts
Birmingham Lions 7100.87527615614
Hertfordshire Hurricanes 6200.75020513312
Swansea Titans 3300.50018012116
Portsmouth Destroyers 2400.3331041334
Bath Killer Bees 0800.000682900

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[32]
Team W L T PCT PF PA Pts
Stirling Clansmen 6200.75020412212
Loughborough Students 6200.750958612
Derby Braves 4400.5001421808
Durham Saints 3500.37588386[33]
Nottingham Trent Renegades 1700.125741672
Premier South[34]
Team W L T PCT PF PA Pts
Hertfordshire Hurricanes 7100.8752069114
Birmingham Lions 5300.62517511410
Swansea Titans 5300.62515913810
Bath Killer Bees 2600.375831354
Kingston Cougars 1700.125901492

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[35]
Team W L T PCT PF PA Pts
Stirling Clansmen 8001.0002688816
Durham Saints 5200.71418913210[36]
Derby Braves 4400.5001441638
Loughborough Students 2600.25010416010
Hallam Warriors 0700.000622240[36]
Premier South[37]
Team W L T PCT PF PA Pts
Birmingham Lions 8001.0002324516
Hertfordshire Hurricanes 5300.62519010910
Kingston Cougars 4400.5001021348
Bath Killer Bees 3500.3751431636
Imperial Immortals 0800.000462620

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[38]
Team W L T PCT PF PA Pts
Durham Saints 7100.87523311914
Stirling Clansmen 6200.7502716812
Loughborough Students 5300.62517815010
Derby Braves 1700.125682112
Sheffield Sabres 1700.125602620[39]
Premier South[40]
Team W L T PCT PF PA Pts
Birmingham Lions 7100.8752593014
Hertfordshire Hurricanes 7100.8752755614
Bath Killer Bees 4400.5001401708
Imperial Immortals 2600.250501332[41]
Brighton Tsunami 0800.000153500

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)[42]
Team W L T PCT PF PA Pts
Stirling Clansmen 8001.0006221316
Glasgow Tigers 5300.62517626410
Edinburgh Predators 4400.5001302018
Edinburgh Napier Knights 3500.3751252446
UWS Pyros 0800.000423730
Big North Western (BNWC)[43]
Team W L T PCT PF PA Pts
Sheffield Sabres 7100.8751976114
Derby Braves 7100.8753204214
Hallam Warriors 7100.8752749614
LJMU Fury 6200.75024612912
UCLan Rams 5300.6252549010
Bangor MudDogs 3500.3751402086
MMU Eagles 3500.3751211936
Lancaster Bombers 3500.3751742946
Staffordshire Stallions 2600.2501402294
Manchester Tyrants 0700.000612000
Keele Crusaders 0700.00063860
North Eastern (NEC)[44]
Team W L T PCT PF PA Pts
Durham Saints 7001.0003164114
Sunderland Spartans 710.87522911514
Leeds Carnegie 620.7501355912
Hull Sharks 620.7501558712
Newcastle Raiders 530.62514013410
York Centurions 440.5001402158
Northumbria Mustangs 350.3751041146
Huddersfield Hawks 250.2861461444
Leeds Celtics 260.2501001624
Bradford Bears 170.125421872
Teesside Cougars 080.000693120
Midlands Athletics (MAC)[45]
Team W L T PCT PF PA Pts
Birmingham Lions 8001.0002062116
Loughborough Students 710.8753407614
NTU Renegades 620.75021411712
Nottingham 440.500122998
Warwick Wolves 440.5001931458
Coventry Jets 340.4291491906
DMU Falcons 350.375871766
Worcester Royals 350.375772136
Lincoln Colonials 340.429521136
Wolverhampton Wildcats 160.143581532
South Western Athletics (SWAC)[46]
Team W L T PCT PF PA Pts
Bath Killer Bees 7001.0002534714
UWE Bullets 610.8572116512
Swansea Titans 610.8572888812
Exeter Demons 430.5711981758
Gloucester Gladiators 340.42963976
Cardiff Cobras 230.40081864
Plymouth Blitz 130.250561412
Tarannau Aberystwyth 150.166881272
Bristol Barracuda 160.143892102
Bath Spa Bulldogs 050.000133220
Oyster Card (London)[47]
Team W L T PCT PF PA Pts
Imperial Immortals 8001.0001453616
Kingston Cougars 710.8751862114
Royal Holloway Bears 620.7502288212
Brunel Burners 530.6252248010
King's College Regents 440.500871418
Greenwich Mariners 350.375971726
Westminster Dragons 160.143601422
London City Sentinels 080.000243200
LSBU Spartans 160.14338106−2**
South Coast (SCC)[48]
Team W L T PCT PF PA Pts
Brighton Tsunami 8001.0002364016
Southampton Stags 710.8752364814
Portsmouth Destroyers 620.7501974712
Surrey Stingers 530.6258210610
OBU Panthers 440.500961038
Reading Knights 250.286861554
Solent Redhawks 260.2502092174
Sussex Saxons 160.1431022182
Oxford Lancers 080.000312940
South Central (SCC)[49]
Team W L T PCT PF PA Pts
Hertfordshire Hurricanes 8001.000384616
Cambridge Pythons 710.8752436714
Kent Falcons 520.7141226510
UEA Pirates 530.6251426510
Northampton Nemesis 430.5711291588
BNU Buccaneers 350.375671436
Canterbury Chargers 160.143461802
Anglia Ruskin Rhinos 170.125422242
Essex Blades 070.000132700

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)[50]
Team W L T PCT PF PA Pts
Stirling Clansmen 8001.0008
Glasgow Tigers 6200.7506
Edinburgh Predators 2400.3332
UWS Pyros 2500.2862
Edinburgh Napier Knights 0700.0000
Big North Western (BNWC)[50]
Team W L T PCT PF PA Pts
Derby Braves 8001.0008
Sheffield Sabres 7100.8757
Manchester Tyrants 6200.7506
UCLan Rams 5300.6255
Hallam Warriors 3300.5003
Staffordshire Stallions 2500.2862
LJMU Fury 2400.2502
Lancaster Bombers 2500.2852
Huddersfield Hawks 2600.2502
MMU Eagles 2600.2502
Bangor MudDogs 1500.1671
North Eastern (NEC)[50]
Team W L T PCT PF PA Pts
Hull Sharks 7001.0007
Leeds Carnegie 6200.7506
Newcastle Raiders 5300.6255
Bradford Bears 4400.5004
Leeds Celtics 4300.5714
Sunderland Spartans 3400.4293
Northumbria Mustangs 2500.2861041142
Durham Saints 2300.4002
Teesside Cougars 1600.1431
York Centurions 1500.1671
Midlands Athletics (MAC)[50]
Team W L T PCT PF PA Pts
Birmingham Lions 8001.0008
Loughborough Students 7100.8757
NTU Renegades 6200.7506
Warwick Wolves 6100.8576
Coventry Jets 3300.5003
Northampton Nemesis 3400.4293
Nottingham 2500.2862
Leicester 2500.2862
Lincoln Colonials 1700.1251
DMU Falcons 1600.1431
Wolverhampton Wildcats 0500.0000
Western[50]
Team W L T PCT PF PA Pts
Bath Killer Bees 8001.0008
Gloucester Gladiators 6200.7506
UWE Bullets 6100.8576
Swansea Titans 5300.6255
Plymouth Blitz 4300.5714
Exeter Demons 3500.3753
Tarannau Aberystwyth 3300.5003
Bristol Barracuda 2500.2862
Cardiff Cobras 1400.2001
Bath Spa Bulldogs 0600.0000
Worcester Royals 0500.0000
South Eastern A[50]
Team W L T PCT PF PA Pts
Hertfordshire Hurricanes 8001.0008
Cambridge Pythons 5100.8335
UEA Pirates 4200.6674
Kent Falcons 3100.7503
Essex Blades 3200.6003
Imperial Immortals 3200.6003
Westminster Dragons 2300.4002
Canterbury Chargers 2400.3332
Anglia Ruskin Rhinos 1400.2001
Greenwich Mariners 1600.1431
King's College Regents 0400.0000
LSBU Spartans 0300.0000
South Eastern B[50]
Team W L T PCT PF PA Pts
Portsmouth Destroyers 7100.8757
Kingston Cougars 7100.8757
Southampton Stags 6200.7506
Brighton Tsunami 5300.6255
BNU Buccaneers 4200.6674
Brunel Burners 4300.5714
Solent Redhawks 3500.3753
Reading Knights 3300.5003
OBU Panthers 2500.2862
Surrey Stingers 2500.2862
Royal Holloway Bears 0700.0000
Oxford Lancers 0600.0000

National Championship

The National Championship game is the annual climax of the British Universities American Football League (BUAFL), crowning the definitive champion of the UK university game. This final game concludes the National Championship playoffs, ending a season that begins in the previous calendar year.

The winning team receives the National Championship Trophy, an honor that has been contested in numerous host cities across Britain.

Since the 2024/25 season, the playoff format has focused on the top four teams of the National Conference regular season.

2026 National Champions: Durham Saints (Unibowl XXXVIII)

Since the collapse of the BCAFL (British Collegiate American Football League) at the end of the 2006–07 season, the event’s identity evolved when the newly–formed BUAFL rebranded the original "College Bowl" as the "National Championship." Despite this renaming of the official title, "Unibowl" remains a popular, unofficial moniker used by players, coaches, and fans as shorthand for the competition, often used retrospectively as a collective label for all titles won since 1987, honoring the twenty-one original College Bowl victories as the foundational history of the sport in the United Kingdom.

The competition's history is marked by several notable milestones, including the "Mud Bowl," the only time a championship game ended with co-champions. In that game, the Hull Sharks and Cardiff Cobras played to a 0–0 tie in College Bowl II after heavy rain made the surface extremely difficult to play on. In terms of dominance, the Birmingham Lions hold the record for the most consecutive championship appearances with six (2009–2014), while the UWE Bullets hold the record for most consecutive wins with four (2022–2025). As of 2026, the Hertfordshire Hurricanes, Birmingham Lions, and UWE Bullets share the all-time lead for national titles, each having won five.

The Stirling Clansmen hold the title of the most successful Scottish team, boasting an impressive record of four National Titles from five Unibowl appearances. Meanwhile, the Cardiff Cobras stands as the most decorated Welsh program, having secured one shared National Championship from 3 trips to the final.

Key
* Game went to overtime.
† Game tied after 3 periods of overtime. Championship shared.
‡ Four 'charter' Universities competed in a single Conference, no postseason playoffs. Conference Champions crowned first National Champions.
(1, 1–0) Number of times that team has appeared in a National Championship as well as each respective teams' National Championship record to date.

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 the 2015–16 season.

Trophy games
SeasonWinning teamLosing teamNotes
2008–2009Bath Killer Bees13Sheffield Hallam Warriors8
2009–2010Greenwich Mariners 12Stirling Clansmen0
2010–2011Cardiff Cobras20UCH Sharks0
2011–2012Sheffield Sabres25Bath Killer Bees8
2012–2013[69]NTU Renegades42Southampton Stags28MVP: NTU QB Danny Miller
2013–2014[70]Swansea Titans38Royal Holloway Bears12MVP: ST QB Simon George
2014–2015 (North)[71] Sheffield Hallam Warriors 26 Glasgow Tigers 6 Sheffield Hallam promoted to Premier North
2014–2015 (South)[72] Kingston Cougars 42 Surrey Stingers 9 Kingston promoted to Premier South
2015–2016[73] Swansea Titans 21 NTU Renegades 16 Swansea promoted to Premier South, NTU promoted to Premier North
2016–2017[74] 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[75] Coventry Jets 26 UEA Pirates 0 Coventry promoted to Premier North, UEA Promoted to Premier South
2021–2022[76] SGS Pride 21 Newcastle Raiders 8 Newcastle promoted to Premier North, SGS Promoted to Premier South
2022–2023[77] Loughborough Students 29 Portsmouth Destroyers 0 Loughborough promoted to Premier North, Portsmouth Promoted to Premier South
2023–2024[78] Exeter Demons 37 NTU Renegades 26 NTU promoted to Premier North (among with others under league reorganisation), Exeter promoted to Premier South

Varsity Bowl

The Varsity Bowl is the annual game between the Oxford Lancers and the Cambridge Pythons, a significant fixture in the UK university sports calendar, pitting the two historic rivals against each other for bragging rights in the sport, played typically in Trinity Term (spring). [79]

It's a continuation of the tradition of varsity contests between Oxford and Cambridge, similar to their famous Boat Race.

The first 5 Varsity Bowls were held between the Oxford Cavaliers and the Cambridge Pythons.

There were no Varsity Bowls held between 1996-2010 because the Oxford Cavaliers became a mixed Oxford University/Oxford Brookes team and they would not have followed Oxbridge Varsity rules. [80]

Since the re-founding of American football at Oxford University, the Varsity Bowl now exists as a contest between the Oxford Lancers and the Cambridge Pythons, recommencing in 2012.

At Varsity Bowl VI, the game was tied and both teams declared co-champions after 3OT.

At Varsity Bowl XI, the game was eventually won by the Cambridge Pythons and declared champions after 2OT.

* Varsity Bowl Champions in bold

Cavalier Cup

The Cavalier Cup is the trophy awarded to the winner of the American Football fixtures between teams of the University of Oxford and the Oxford Brookes University in the BUAFL, played annually.

The match serves as a high-stakes showdown between the Oxford Lancers and the Oxford Brookes Panthers, two teams that share a single lineage. Until 2011, they competed as a unified program known as the Oxford Cavaliers. This original squad reached the pinnacle of the sport during the 2001–02 season, when they successfully captured the National Championship, establishing a legacy of excellence that both modern teams still strive to uphold. [81]

Since their split in 2011, the Lancers and Panthers have met on the field every year starting in the 2012/13 season. This annual tradition was established not just for competition, but as a formal way to honor the history of the Oxford Cavaliers. By facing off in the Cavalier Cup, both universities keep the memory of their shared championship roots alive for new generations of players and fans.

The Cavalier Cup is fought whenever the two teams play and is sometimes played twice in a season if both teams are playing in same BUAFL conference.

RESULTS MISSING UP TO...

25/26 Lancers 7 - 36 Panthers

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.

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

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