British Universities American Football League

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. The BUAFL has been credited with reviving interest in American football in the UK.

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
champion
UWE Bullets (5th title)
Most titlesBirmingham Lions
Hertfordshire Hurricanes
UWE Bullets
(5 titles each)
Streaming partnerSportank
Official websitewww.bucs.org.uk/

From 2008, the BUAFL was officially associated with the National Football League (NFL), through its partner organisation NFL UK. In 2012, BUAFL's league and teams were absorbed into BUCS after American football became an official BUCS sport. 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. 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.

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.

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 as well as hosting a weekly show called "The Rundown", predictions and rankings posts. 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


Knights
Wolverines
Mavericks
Bulls
Tigers
Clansmen
Eagles
Tyrants
Storm
Barracuda
Tarannau
Cobras
Titans
Siege
Killer Bees
Bulldogs
Lions
Bobcats
Panthers
Pythons
Spitfires
Jets
Lions
Braves
Saints
Pirates
Vikings
Blades
Demons
Gladiators
Hurricanes
Sharks
Crusaders
Falcons
Rams
Bombers
Carnegie
Gryphons
Longhorns
Fury
Raptors
Gold / Green
Students
Renegades
Panthers
Lancers
Blitz
Knights
Warrios
Raiders
Mustangs
Sabres
Redhawks
Stags
Stallions
Spartans
Stingers
Saxons
Wolves
Centurions
Jaguars
Royals
Destroyers
Colonials
London teams:
Bears
Burners
Cougars
Emperors
Immortals
Mariners
Regents
Vipers
Wolfpack
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Locations of University teams for the 2025 BUAFL Championship
North South

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:

Premier divisions

National
  • Durham Saints
  • Leeds Beckett Carnegie
  • Loughborough Students
  • Nottingham Gold
  • UWE Bullets
North South
  • Leeds Gryphons
  • Liverpool Raptors
  • Newcastle Raiders
  • NTU Renegades
  • Warwick Wolves
  • Birmingham Lions
  • Cardiff Cobras
  • Exeter Demons
  • Portsmouth Destroyers
  • SGS Pride

Tier 1 divisions

Scottish Northern Midlands and Yorkshire
  • Aberdeen Bulls
  • Edinburgh Mavericks
  • Edinburgh Napier Knights
  • Glasgow Tigers
  • Heriot-Watt Wolverines
  • Stirling Clansmen
  • Liverpool John Moores Fury
  • Manchester Tyrants
  • MMU Eagles
  • Northumbria Mustangs
  • Lancashire Rams
  • Coventry Jets
  • Hull Sharks
  • Leicester Longhorns
  • Nottingham Green
  • Sheffield Hallam Warriors
Southern South East South West
  • Brighton Panthers
  • Brunel Burners
  • Hertfordshire Hurricanes
  • Oxford Lancers
  • Reading Knights
  • Essex Blades
  • Kent Falcons
  • King's College Regents
  • UCL Emperors
  • UEA Pirates
  • Bath Killer Bees
  • Bournemouth Bobcats
  • Bristol Barracuda
  • Southampton Stags
  • Swansea Titans

Tier 2 Divisions

North Western North Eastern Midlands
  • Edge Hill Vikings
  • Keele Crusaders
  • Lancaster Bombers
  • Staffordshire Stallions
  • Bradford Bears
  • Sheffield Sabres
  • Sunderland Spartans
  • York Centurions
  • YSJ Jaguars
  • ARU Siege
  • Cambridge Pythons
  • Derby Braves
  • DMU Lions
  • Lincoln Colonials
Southern South Western South Eastern
  • Chichester Spitfires
  • OBU Panthers
  • Royal Holloway Bears
  • Solent Redhawks
  • Surrey Stingers
  • Sussex Saxons
  • Bath Spa Bulldogs
  • Gloucester Gladiators
  • Plymouth Blitz
  • Tarannau Aberystwyth
  • UWE Bullets 2's
  • Worcester Royals
  • Canterbury Chargers
  • City Wolfpack
  • Greenwich Mariners
  • Imperial Immortals
  • Kingston Cougars
  • QMUL Vipers

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. This differed from the standard BUCS structure of five geographical regions below Premier level. 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.

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.

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.

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). 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).

League results

2024-25 season results

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

Purple indicates playoff qualification.

Premier National
Team W L T PCT PF PA Pts
UWE Bullets (C) 7 1 0 0.875 466 63 14
Nottingham Gold 6 2 0 0.750 308 90 12
Durham Saints 5 3 0 0.625 222 200 10
Loughborough Students 2 6 0 0.250 113 261 4
Leeds Beckett Carnegie (O) 0 8 0 0.000 39 342 0

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 7 1 0 0.875 216 80 14
Leeds Gryphons 6 2 0 0.750 284 106 12
NTU Renegades 4 4 0 0.500 171 135 8
Newcastle Raiders 2 6 0 0.250 60 268 4
Liverpool (R) 1 7 0 0.125 47 189 0
Premier South
Team W L T PCT PF PA Pts
SGS Pride (C) 8 0 0 1.000 241 28 16
Portsmouth Destroyers 5 3 0 0.625 179 126 10
Exeter Demons 4 4 0 0.500 122 204 8
Cardiff Cobras 2 6 0 0.250 134 206 4
Birmingham Open (R) 1 7 0 0.125 89 201 0

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
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
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
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
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
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
Premier South
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.

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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Nottingham Trent Renegades 1 7 0 0.125 74 167 2
Premier South
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
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
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
Premier South
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
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
Premier South
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
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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
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
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
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

The collapse of the BCAFL, due to the British American Football Association (BAFA) withdrawing recognition, created a void in the university sport structure. In response, the British Universities American Football League (BUAFL) was founded in 2007. This new league established direct oversight from BAFA, ensuring the sport's longevity. Crucially, the BUAFL maintained the tradition of its predecessor by having the same teams that had participated in the former BCAFL compete for the newly titled BUAFL National Championship. This continuity was vital in preserving the competitive spirit and national scope of the event.

While the new BUAFL title replaced the College Bowl as the official national final, the twenty-one College Bowl titles won between 1987 and 2007 remain widely recognized as massive achievements. For the champion teams, these titles represent the foundational history of the sport in the UK university system. The league itself honors this legacy; the College Bowl champions are still celebrated, and their success is a key part of the official historical records of the competition, providing a direct lineage to the current BUAFL/BUCS structure.

The BUAFL’s subsequent association with NFL UK from 2008 solidified the sport's national presence, leading to growth from 42 teams in 2007 to 75 teams by 2014.

List of National Championships and National Champions by season

* shared/co-champions

Ed. Date
(Season)
Winning
team
Score Runner-up Host city Venue MVP Eligible teams Ref.
BCAFL College Bowl (1987–2007)
I
March 15, 1987 (1986–87) Hull Sharks 23–6 Newcastle Scholars Middlesbrough Teesside Playing Fields 8
II

(1987–88)
*Hull Sharks 0–0 Cardiff Cobras after 3OT. Both declared co-champions. Hull Allam Sports Pitches 11
III

(1988–89)
Hull Sharks 7–6 Cardiff Cobras Leicester Saffron Lane Sports Centre 11
IV

(1989–90)
Teesside Demons 21–20 Birmingham Lions Leicester Saffron Lane Sports Centre 16
V
March 17, 1991 (1990–91) Teesside Demons 19–0 UEA Pirates Leicester Saffron Lane Sports Centre 19
VI
March 8, 1992 (1991–92) Southampton Stags 53–0 Glasgow Tigers Leicester Saffron Lane Sports Centre 20
VII
March 21, 1993 (1992–93) Southampton Stags 19–0 Leeds Celtics Leicester Saffron Lane Sports Centre 26
VIII
March 13, 1994 (1993–94) Glasgow Tigers 26–0 Leicester Lemmings Leicester Saffron Lane Sports Centre 26
IX
March 12, 1995 (1994–95) Loughborough Aces 23–20 Cambridge Pythons Leicester Saffron Lane Sports Centre 29
X
March 17, 1996 (1995–96) Leeds Celtics 14–8 Cardiff Cobras Leicester Saffron Lane Sports Centre 27
XI

(1996–97)
Loughborough Aces 28–19 Tarannau Aberystwyth Leicester Saffron Lane Sports Centre 31
XII
March 15, 1998 (1997–98) Hertfordshire Hurricanes 16–7 Leeds Celtics Leicester Saffron Lane Sports Centre 27
XIII
March 21, 1999 (1998–99) Hertfordshire Hurricanes 7–3 Loughborough Aces Leicester Saffron Lane Sports Centre 27
XIV
March 26, 2000 (1999–00) Hertfordshire Hurricanes 20–6 Leicester Lemmings Leicester Saffron Lane Sports Centre 27
XV
March 25, 2001 (2000–01) Oxford Cavaliers 26–23 Loughborough Aces Leicester Saffron Lane Sports Centre 27
XVI
March 17, 2002 (2001–02) Loughborough Aces 39–23 Oxford Cavaliers Leon Cordingley (Loughborough) 29
XVII
March 30, 2003 (2002–03) Stirling Clansmen 22–17 Hertfordshire Hurricanes Dewsbury Crown Flatt Stadium 29
XVIII
March 21, 2004 (2003–04) Hertfordshire Hurricanes 27–6 Staffordshire Stallions Dewsbury Crown Flatt Stadium 32
XIX
March 20, 2005 (2004–05) Birmingham Lions 34–7 Glasgow Tigers Coventry Butts Park Arena 36
XX
March 26, 2006 (2005–06) Southampton Stags 79–8 Teesside Cougars Coventry Butts Park Arena 37
XXI
March 25, 2007 (2006–07) UWE Bullets 31–14 Loughborough Aces Coventry Butts Park Arena 39
renamed as the BUAFL National Championship Final (2008–Present)
XXII
March 22, 2008 (2007–08) Southampton Stags 54–20 Staffordshire Stallions Doncaster Keepmoat Stadium
XXIII
April 5, 2009 (2008–09) Birmingham Lions 42–2 Newcastle Raiders Leeds John Charles Centre
XXIV
May 9, 2010 (2009–10) Birmingham Lions 27–16 Loughborough Aces Northampton Sixfields Stadium
XXV
April 9, 2011 (2010–11) Portsmouth Destroyers 20–19 Birmingham Lions Leeds John Charles Centre
XXVI
March 25, 2012 (2011–12) Hertfordshire Hurricanes 37–19 Birmingham Lions Leeds John Charles Centre
XXVII
April 20, 2013 (2012–13) Birmingham Lions 17–13 Hertfordshire Hurricanes Leeds John Charles Centre
XXVIII
March 29, 2014 (2013–14) Stirling Clansmen 20–15 Birmingham Lions Leeds John Charles Centre
XXIV
March 21, 2015 (2014–15) Stirling Clansmen 46–6 Hertfordshire Hurricanes London Allianz Park 10
XXX
March 20, 2016 (2015–16) Birmingham Lions 19–13 Stirling Clansmen Leeds John Charles Centre 10
XXXI
March 26, 2017 (2016–17) Stirling Clansmen 10–7 Durham Saints Worcester Sixways Stadium 10
XXXII
March 25, 2018 (2017–18) Durham Saints 17–6 Derby Braves Worcester Sixways Stadium 10
XXXIII
March 31, 2019 (2018–19) Leeds Beckett Carnegie 57–13 Hertfordshire Hurricanes Loughborough Rugby Rubber Crumb 10
(2019–20) cancelled due to the covid–19 pandemic
(2020–21) cancelled due to the covid–19 pandemic
XXXIV
March 22, 2022 (2021–22) UWE Bullets 28–21 Nottingham Gold Nottingham David Ross Sports Village 10
XXXV
March 23, 2023 (2022–23) UWE Bullets 34–27 Nottingham Gold Nottingham David Ross Sports Village 10
XXXVI
March 19, 2024 (2023–24) UWE Bullets 52–0 Durham Saints Loughborough Rugby Rubber Crumb 10
XXXVII
March 18, 2025 (2024–25) UWE Bullets 42–12 Nottingham Gold Loughborough Rugby Rubber Crumb 5

Upcoming National Championship Finals

TBC - to be confirmed

Ed. Date
(Season)
Home team Score Away team Host city Venue Eligible teams Ref.
XXXVIII
March, 2026 (2025–26) Loughborough Rugby Rubber Crumb 5
XXXIV
March, 2027 (2026–27) TBC TBC TBC

List of National Champions by titles won

* shared/co-champions

Team Champions Runners-up

Birmingham Lions

5 (2004–05, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2012–13, 2015–16) 4 (1989–90, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2013–14)
Hertfordshire Hurricanes 5 (1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–00, 2003–04, 2011–12) 4 (2002–03, 2012–13, 2014–15, 2018–19)
UWE Bullets 5 (2006–07, 2021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24, 2024–25)
Stirling Clansmen 4 (2002–03, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2016–17) 1 (2015–16)
Southampton Stags 4 (1991–92, 1992–93, 2005–06, 2007–08)
Loughborough Students
fmr. Loughborough Aces
3 (1994–95, 1996–97, 2001–02) 3 (1998–99, 2000–01, 2006–07)
Hull Sharks 3 (1986–87, 1987–88*, 1988–89)

Teesside Cougars
fmr. Teesside Demons

2 (1989–90, 1990–91) 1 (2005–06)

Leeds Gryphons
fmr. Leeds Celtics

1 (1995–96) 2 (1992–93, 1997–98)

Glasgow Tigers

1 (1993–94) 2 (1991–92, 2004–05)

Cardiff Cobras

1 (1987–88*) 2 (1988–89, 1995–96)

Durham Saints

1 (2017–18) 2 (2016–17, 2023–24)

Oxford Lancers
fmr. Oxford Cavaliers

1 (2000–01) 1 (2001–02)

Portsmouth Destroyers

1 (2010–11)

Leeds Beckett Carnegie

1 (2018–19)

Nottingham Gold
fmr. Nottingham Outlaws

3 (2021–22, 2022–23, 2024–25)

Leicester Longhorns
fmr. Leicester Lemmings/
Lightning

2 (1993–94, 1999–00)

Staffordshire Stallions

2 (2003–04, 2007–08)

Tarannau Aberystwyth

1 (1996–97)

Cambridge Pythons

1 (1994–95)

Derby Braves

1 (2017–18)

UEA Pirates

1 (1990–91)

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
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 NTU Renegades 42 Southampton Stags 28 MVP: NTU QB Danny Miller
2013–2014 Swansea Titans 38 Royal Holloway Bears 12 MVP: ST QB Simon George
2014–2015 (North) Sheffield Hallam Warriors 26 Glasgow Tigers 6 Sheffield Hallam promoted to Premier North
2014–2015 (South) Kingston Cougars 42 Surrey Stingers 9 Kingston promoted to Premier South
2015–2016 Swansea Titans 21 NTU Renegades 16 Swansea promoted to Premier South, NTU promoted to Premier North
2016–2017 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 Coventry Jets 26 UEA Pirates 0 Coventry promoted to Premier North, UEA Promoted to Premier South
2021–2022 SGS Pride 21 Newcastle Raiders 8 Newcastle promoted to Premier North, SGS Promoted to Premier South
2022–2023 Loughborough Students 29 Portsmouth Destroyers 0 Loughborough promoted to Premier North, Portsmouth Promoted to Premier South
2023–2024 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)

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