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.[1][2] The BUAFL has been credited with reviving interest in American football in the UK.[3]

British Universities American Football League
BUAFL logo
SportAmerican football
Founded2007
Divisions3 with a total of 14 conferences
No. of teams83 (2022–23 season)
Country United Kingdom
Most recent
champion(s)		Premier: UWE Bullets

Division 1: Filton College Pride

Division 2: Liverpool University Raptors & Bournemouth University Bobcats

From 2008, the BUAFL was officially associated with the National Football League (NFL), through its partner organisation NFL UK.[4] In 2012, BUAFL's league and teams were absorbed into BUCS after American football became an official BUCS sport.[5] 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.[6]

League structure

Over the course of the regular season, each team in the Premier and Tier 1 plays between eight regular season games. Each team plays everyone in their division twice; once home and once away. For the 2016/17 season, Tier 2 is broken down into six conferences, five of seven teams and one (South East) of eight; teams in Tier 2 play a six-game season (seven in the South East division), playing each other only once.[7]

Current structure

The latest structure for the BUAFL system was announced by BUCS on 26 August 2016. It consists of two Premier divisions, six regional Tier 1 divisions and six regional Tier 2 divisions.[7] This differs from the standard BUCS structure of five geographical regions below Premier level.[8] The Premier and Tier 1 divisions are considered to be of "high performance" by the BAFA and BUCS. The teams allocated to each division at the start of the 2023–2024 season were:

Premier Divisions
NorthSouth

Tier 1 Divisions
ScottishNorthernMidlands
SouthernSouth EastSouth West

Tier 2 Divisions
Northern ANorthern BMidlands
SouthernSouth WesternSouth Eastern

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.[8]

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).[8][9] 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).[7]

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[10]
Team W L T PCT PF PA Pts
University of Nottingham 7100.8753097214
Leeds Beckett Carnegie 6200.75023916312
Durham Saints 5300.62520714710
Stirling Clansmen 2600.250932394
Leeds Gryphons 0800.00010237-2[11]
Premier South[12]
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

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[13]
Team W L T PCT PF PA Pts
University of Nottingham 8001.0002044216
Leeds Beckett Carnegie 5300.62519413010
Durham Saints 4400.5001521138
Stirling Clansmen 3500.3751381596
Derby Braves 0800.000332770
Premier South[14]
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[15]
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[14]
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[16]
Team W L T PCT PF PA Pts
Stirling Clansmen 6200.75020412212
Loughborough Students 6200.750958612
Derby Braves 4400.5001421808
Durham Saints 3500.37588386[17]
Nottingham Trent Renegades 1700.125741672
Premier South[18]
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[19]
Team W L T PCT PF PA Pts
Stirling Clansmen 8001.0002688816
Durham Saints 5200.71418913210[20]
Derby Braves 4400.5001441638
Loughborough Students 2600.25010416010
Hallam Warriors 0700.000622240[20]
Premier South[21]
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[22]
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[23]
Premier South[24]
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[25]
Brighton Tsunami 0800.000153500

2013–14 Final Standings

Championship qualification is shaded in green, and Plate 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)[26]
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)[27]
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)[28]
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)[29]
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)[30]
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)[31]
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)[32]
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)[33]
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

National Championship Games
SeasonWinning teamLosing teamnotes
2007–2008Southampton Stags54Staffordshire Stallions20
2008–2009Birmingham Lions42Newcastle Raiders2
2009–2010Birmingham Lions27Loughborough Aces16
2010–2011Portsmouth Destroyers20Birmingham Lions19
2011–2012Hertfordshire Hurricanes37Birmingham Lions19
2012–2013[34]Birmingham Lions17Hertfordshire Hurricanes13
2013–2014[35]Stirling Clansmen20Birmingham Lions15
2014–2015[36]Stirling Clansmen46Hertfordshire Hurricanes6
2015–2016[37]Birmingham Lions19Stirling Clansmen13
2016–2017Stirling Clansmen10Durham Saints7MVP: SC QB Andres Donat
2017–2018[38]Durham Saints17Derby Braves6
2018-2019[39] Leeds Beckett Carnegie 57 Hertfordshire Hurricanes 13 MVP: LBC S Tyler Broad
2021-2022 UWE Bullets 28 Nottingham Gold 21 MVP: UWE CB Brian Peavy

Challenge Trophy/Divisional Cups/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 to 2016.

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[40]NTU Renegades42Southampton Stags28MVP: NTU QB Danny Miller
2013–2014[41]Swansea Titans38Royal Holloway Bears12MVP: ST QB Simon George
2014–15 (North)[42] Sheffield Hallam Warriors 26 Glasgow Tigers 6 Sheffield Hallam promoted to Premier North
2014–15 (South)[43] Kingston Cougars 42 Surrey Stingers 9 Kingston promoted to Premier South
2015–2016[44] Swansea Titans 21 NTU Renegades 16 Swansea promoted to Premier South, NTU promoted to Premier North
2016–2017[45] 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[46] Coventry Jets 26 UEA Pirates 0 Coventry promoted to Premier North, UEA Promoted to Premier South

League MVP

MVP awards have been given out sporadically at best.

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)
2022-2023 K.K. Brooks (Penn Quakers)

References
  1. "BSAFA Operations Suspended". British American Football Association. 25 July 2007. Archived from the original on 24 July 2008. Retrieved 12 May 2009.
  2. "BAFA Launches BUAFL". British American Football Association. 25 July 2007. Archived from the original on 24 July 2008. Retrieved 12 May 2009.
  3. 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.
  4. "NFL announces partnership with BUAFL". 12 November 2008. Archived from the original on 8 January 2011.
  5. "American Football - British Universities & Colleges Sport". Archived from the original on 12 September 2014. Retrieved 11 March 2013.
  6. 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
  7. "#BUCSball Conference Structures Released!". 26 August 2016. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
  8. "American Football – Moving to three tiers". BUCS. 9 June 2015. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
  9. "BUCS American Football 2015–16". BUCS. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
  10. "BUCScore - BUCS American Football 2021-22 - Premier North - Mixed". BUCS. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  11. Penalised 2 points for conceding a walkover against Durham
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  13. "BUCScore - BUCS American Football 2018-19 - Premier North - Mixed". BUCS. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
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  15. "BUCS American Football 2017–2018 – Premier North". BUCS. Archived from the original on 13 September 2017. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
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  17. First five matches of season awarded as involuntary walkovers to opposition due to fielding an ineligible player
  18. "BUCS American Football 2016–2017 – Premier South". BUCS. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
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  20. Sheffield Hallam vs Durham match void
  21. "BUCS American Football 2015–2016 – Premier South". BUCS. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
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  23. Penalised 2 points for conceding walkover vs Durham
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  25. Penalised 2 points for conceding walkover vs Birmingham
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  30. "BUCS American Football 2013–2014 – Western". BUCS. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
  31. "BUCS American Football 2013–2014 – South Eastern B". BUCS. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
  32. "BUCS American Football 2013–2014 – South". BUCS. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
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  38. "BUCS Finals Day 2018". Football America UK. 3 April 2018. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
  39. "BUCScore - BUCS American Football 2018-19 - Championship - Mixed". BUCS. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
  40. "BUCS American Football 2012–2013 – Trophy – Men's". BUCS. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
  41. "BUCS American Football 2013–2014 – Trophy – Men's". BUCS. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
  42. "BUCS American Football 2014–2015 – North Divisional Cup – Mixed". BUCS. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
  43. "BUCS American Football 2014–2015 – South Divisional Cup – Mixed". BUCS. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
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