BUCS Super Rugby

Last updated

BUCS Super Rugby
BUCS Super Rugby Logo CYMK.svg
Sport Rugby union
First seasonMen's - 2016-17
Women's - 2024-25
Administrator British Universities and Colleges Sport
No. of teamsMen's - 10
Women's - 7
Country Great Britain
Most titles
Level on pyramid1
Relegation toMen's
North A or South A
Official website www.bucs.org.uk/premier-sports/super-rugby.html

BUCS Super Rugby is the highest level of men's and women's university rugby union in the United Kingdom and a potential pathway for university players into professional rugby. [1] It comprises ten teams from universities in England and Wales. The league is named after its governing body, British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS).

Contents

History

Background

The Scottish Varsity match between the University of St Andrews and the University of Edinburgh is the oldest varsity match in the world in a code of football, having been first played under rugby union rules in the 1860s. [2] [a] The first Varsity Match in rugby union between the University of Oxford and University of Cambridge was contested in 1872. [4]

Unusually for British university sporting events, the Oxford-Cambridge Varsity Match was broadcast on television, along with The Boat Race. [5] [6] The Independent proposed in 2008 that Bath v Loughborough was "the real varsity match" on the basis that these were the top two rugby union teams (at that time) in British Universities Sports Association (BUSA) competitions. [7] In 2015, British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS), the successor to BUSA, organised fixtures between Loughborough and Durham (two of the top universities since 2011-12) to occur on the same day, which was referred to as the "BUCS Varsity". [8] [9]

Men's

Men's BUCS Super Rugby was launched in 2016 as a new, top level of university rugby above the existing North A and South A leagues.

The eight teams in the inaugural 2016–17 season were those who finished in the top four of the North A and South A leagues in the preceding 2015–16 season.

The league expanded to nine teams in the 2017–18 season and ten teams in the 2018–19 season.

Women's

Women's BUCS Super Rugby was launched ahead of the 2024–25 season. [10]

The seven-team competition is a positive evolution of the Women's National League (WNL) and joins the top level of Men's rugby union as BUCS’ second ‘Super’ level of competition. Women's BUCS Super Rugby will provide an enhanced platform to aid female players at institutions in England, Wales, and Scotland in developing their game while pursuing higher education. [10]

On 12 February 2025 Brunel University's Women secured their place in Women's BUCS Super Rugby (WBSR), for the first time in their history, defeating Newcastle 64–8 in the BSR North vs South Prem Playoff. [11]

Men's BUCS Super Rugby

Season structure

The season has three phases:

League

The League season currently has 18 rounds and typically runs from September to March. League points are awarded in the following way:

In this points system winning teams get 4 or 5 points, drawing teams 2 or 3 points, and losing teams between 0 and 2 points.

Championship

The Championship competition has three rounds and typically takes place in April. It features the teams who finished in the top eight of the league.

Men's BUCS Super Rugby Milk Championships

Quarter Finals:

  • 1st v 8th
  • 2nd v 7th
  • 4th v 5th
  • 3rd v 6th

Semi Finals:

  • 1st or 8th v 4th or 5th
  • 2nd or 7th v 3rd or 6th
Quarterfinals Semifinals Finals
         
1  
8  
 
 
4  
5  
 
 
2  
7  
 
 
3  
6  

Playoff

The team that finishes last in the league is not automatically relegated. Relegation from (and promotion to) BUCS Super Rugby is decided through a playoff in the format of a three-team, single-elimination tournament. [12]

The playoff begins with a semi-final between the winners of the North A and South A leagues. The bottom placed BUCS Super Rugby team has a bye directly into the playoff game. The winner of the playoff game is the team that plays in the next season of BUCS Super Rugby. The home team in each game is decided by coin toss.

North vs South Playoff BUCS Super Rugby Playoff
Bottom placed team in BUCS Super Rugby
North A champions Winner of North vs South Playoff
South A champions

2025-26 Playoff Changes

In August 2025, BUCS announced that from the 2025-26 Season the 10th placed team at the end of the season would be automatically relegated without a playoff. Their place would be taken by the winner of the Premier North vs Premier South playoff. [13]

Playoff results

SeasonGameGold medal icon.svg WinnerScore!Silver medal icon.svg Runner-upVenuePromotedAttendanceRefHighlights
Men's BUCS Super Rugby
2016-17Game 1 - 05/04/2017Nottingham Trent University57-0Bristol UniversityNottingham Trent University
Game 2 - 12/04/2017Nottingham Trent University65-12Bristol University
2017-18Game 1 - 07/03/2018Cardiff University59-17Newcastle UniversityCardiff University
Game 2 - 14/03/2018Cardiff University28-17Newcastle University
2018-19Prem Semi-Final - 03/04/2019Swansea University27-18Newcastle University
BSR Playoff - 10/04/2019Swansea University32-28Nottingham Trent UniversitySwansea University
2019-20Prem Semi-Final - 01/04/2020Nottingham Trent UniversityN/ABristol UniversitySeason interrupted by COVID-19
BSR Playoff - 08/04/2020Semi-Final WinnerN/ANorthumbria University
2020-21Season interrupted by COVID-19
2021-22No Semi-Final
BSR Playoff - 13/04/2022Nottingham University22-28Northumbria University'Nottingham University
2022-23Prem Semi-Final - 29/03/2023Brunel University26-18Newcastle University
BSR Playoff - 12/04/2023Leeds Beckett University23-17Brunel UniversityLeeds Beckett University
2023-24Prem Semi-Final - 27/03/2024Newcastle University39-24Brunel University
BSR Playoff - 10/04/2024Swansea University40-17Newcastle UniversitySwansea University
2024-25Prem Semi-Final - 26/03/2025Brunel University30-29Newcastle University
BSR Playoff - 09/04/2025Swansea University19-15Brunel UniversitySwansea University
Gold background University that has been promoted to Men's BUCS Super Rugby.
Cyan background Men's BUCS Super Rugby University that has successfully defended their place in the league after the Playoffs.
Red background Playoff campaign was not completed due to suspension of competition due to Covid-19 Pandemic.

Results

League and championship

Final positionSeasonSeasonSeasonSeasonSeasonSeasonSeasonSeasonSeasonSeasonSeason
2016-172017-182018-192019-20*2021-222022-232023-242024-252025-262026-272027-28
1Hartpury (CH)ExeterExeter (SF)DurhamDurham (RU)Loughborough (RU)Exeter (RU)Loughborough (RU)Bath
2Exeter (RU)NorthumbriaHartpury (CH)ExeterExeter (CH)Exeter (CH)Loughborough (CH)Hartpury (CH)Cardiff
3Loughborough (SF)Cardiff Met (RU)Bath (SF)Leeds BeckettCardiff Met (SF)DurhamHartpury (SF)BathCardiff Met
4DurhamLeeds Beckett (SF)Cardiff MetCardiff MetLoughborough (SF)Bath (SF)DurhamDurhamDurham
5Bath (SF)Hartpury (CH)Leeds Beckett (RU)HartpurySwanseaHartpuryBath (SF)Exeter (SF)Exeter
6NorthumbriaLoughboroughNorthumbriaLoughboroughCardiffCardiff (SF)Cardiff MetCardiff Met (SF)Hartpury
7Cardiff MetBath (SF)DurhamSwanseaHartpuryCardiff MetLeeds BeckettNottinghamLeeds Beckett
8Leeds BeckettDurhamCardiffBathLeeds BeckettNottinghamNottinghamLeeds BackettLoughborough
9-Nottingham TrentLoughboroughCardiffBathSwanseaCardiffCardiffNottingham
10--Nottingham Trent (R)NorthumbriaNorthumbria (R)Leeds BeckettSwanseaSwanseaSwansea
Green background (rows 1 to 8) are teams that progressed to the Championship tournament.
Red background is a team that was relegated after losing a playoff to a North A / South A team.
(CH) Champions. (RU) Runners-up. (SF) Losing semi-finalists. (R) Relegated
* No Championship tournament was held in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Championship finals

SeasonGold medal icon.svg ChampionScoreSilver medal icon.svg Runner-upVenueAttendanceRefHighlightsTitle
Pre-Men's BUCS Super Rugby
2013-14Hartpury University28-24Leeds Met Twickenham [14]
2014-15Leeds Beckett31-23Loughborough Twickenham [15]
2015-16Exeter University21-19Loughborough Twickenham [16]
Men's BUCS Super Rugby
2016-17Hartpury University27-24Exeter University Twickenham [17]
2017-18Hartpury University27-24Cardiff Met Twickenham [18]
2018-19Hartpury University45-27Leeds Beckett Twickenham [19]
2019-20Season interrupted by COVID-19
2020-21Season interrupted by COVID-19
2021-22Exeter University14-13Durham UniversitySixways Stadium [20]
2022-23Exeter University48-44LoughboroughStoneX Stadium [21]
2023-24Loughborough35-31Exeter UniversityStoneX Stadium [22]
2024-25Hartpury University35-31LoughboroughRodney Parade [23]

Promotion and relegation

Alumni with international caps

The inclusion criteria are that the player played in a senior international test after playing in BUCS Super Rugby.

Place in the BUCS Rugby Union pyramid

BUCS Super Rugby is the top division of men's university rugby in Britain. It sits in the Premier tier of the BUCS Rugby Union pyramid, along with North A, North B, South A and South B.

PremierBUCS Super Rugby
North ASouth A
North BSouth B
Tier 1Scottish 1ANorthern 1AMidlands 1AWestern 1ASouth Eastern 1A
Tier 2Scottish 2ANorthern 2ANorthern 2BMidlands 2AMidlands 2BWestern 2AWestern 2BSouth Eastern 2ASouth Eastern 2B
Tier 3Scottish 3ANorthern 3ANorthern 3BMidlands 3AMidlands 3BWestern 3AWestern 3BSouth Eastern 3ASouth Eastern 3B
Tier 4Scottish 4ANorthern 4ANorthern 4BMidlands 4AMidlands 4BWestern 4AWestern 4BSouth Eastern 4ASouth Eastern 4CSouth Eastern 4B
Tier 5Northern 5ANorthern 5BMidlands 5AWestern 5ASouth Eastern 5ASouth Eastern 5B
Tier 6South Eastern 6A

Women's BUCS Super Rugby

Season structure

The season has three phases:

League

The league season currently has 14 rounds and typically runs from September to March. League points are awarded in the following way:

In this points system winning teams get 4 or 5 points, drawing teams 2 or 3 points, and losing teams between 0 and 2 points.

Championship

The Championship competition has three rounds and typically takes place in April. It features the teams that finished in the top six of the league. The top two places are awarded a bye into the semi-finals.

Women's BUCS Super Rugby Milk Championships

Quarter Finals:

  • 1st - BYE
  • 2nd - BYE
  • 4th v 5th
  • 3rd v 6th

Semi Finals:

  • 1st v 4th or 5th
  • 2nd v 3rd or 6th
Quarterfinals Semifinals Finals
         
1 BYE
 
 
 
4  
5  
 
 
2 BYE
 
 
 
3  
6  

Results

League and championship

Final positionSeasonSeasonSeasonSeason
2024-252025-262026-272027-28
1Hartpury (SF)Brunel
2Exeter (SF)Cardiff
3Loughborough (RU)Cardiff Met
4EdinburghEdinburgh
5Cardiff Met (CH)Exeter
6CardiffHartpury
7DurhamLoughborough
8--
Green background (rows 1 to 6) are teams that progressed to the Championship tournament.
(CH) Champions. (RU) Runners-up. (SF) Losing semi-finalists.

Championship finals

SeasonGold medal icon.svg ChampionScoreSilver medal icon.svg Runner-upVenueAttendanceRefHighlightsTitle
Pre-Women's National League
2013-14Cardiff Met47-0Leeds Met Twickenham [35]
2014-15Gloucestershire28-12Cardiff Met Twickenham [36]
2015-16Cardiff Met20-5Northumbria Twickenham [37]
2016-17Edinburgh University48-5Northumbria Twickenham [38]
2017-18Exeter University35-32Hartpury University Twickenham [39]
2018-19Exeter University30-26Durham University Twickenham [40]
2019-20Season interrupted by COVID-19
2020-21Season interrupted by COVID-19
Women's National League
2021-22Hartpury University36-22Edinburgh UniversitySixways Stadium [41]
2022-23Hartpury University45-12Exeter UniversityStoneX Stadium [42]
2023-24Hartpury University34-22LoughboroughStoneX Stadium [43]
Women's BUCS Super Rugby
2024-25Cardiff Met30-29LoughboroughRodney Parade [44]

Place in the BUCS Rugby Union pyramid

BUCS Super Rugby is the top division of women's university rugby in Britain. It sits in the Premier tier of the BUCS Rugby Union pyramid, along with Premier North and South.

PremierBUCS Super Rugby
NorthSouth
Tier 1Scottish 1Northern 1Midlands 1Western 1South Eastern 1
Tier 2Scottish 2Northern 2Midlands 2Western 2South Eastern 2
Tier 3Northern 3ANorthern 3BMidlands 3AMidlands 3BSouth Eastern 3ASouth Eastern 3B

University Celestial 7s

The UC7s brings together the finest university rugby playing talent across the land, all vying to be crowned the uni Kings and Queens of the most heavenly form of the game, Rugby 7s. [45]

The competition consists of more than 50 male and female university teams, including up to 1,000 players. With five active competitions on the day played across seven pitches at The Richmond Athletics Ground, the home of Richmond RFC, Universities go to battle. [46]

The inaugural competition takes place on Friday 13 June 2025.

Competitions

Men’s and Women’s Championship

The Championships are open to Super Rugby and North/South Premier sides. [47]

SeasonGold medal icon.svg Men's ChampionGold medal icon.svg Women's ChampionVenue
2025Exeter UniversityLoughborough University Richmond Athletic Ground

Men’s and Women's Trophy

The Trophy is open to all other BUCS sides competing across the leagues.

SeasonGold medal icon.svg Men's ChampionGold medal icon.svg Women's ChampionVenue
2025Loughborough University 2sExeter University Richmond Athletic Ground

The Capital Cup

The Capital Cup is especially for the great institutions of London.

SeasonGold medal icon.svg Men's ChampionVenue
2025Imperial College London Richmond Athletic Ground

Media coverage

Some BUCS Super Rugby matches are streamed live on the Super Rugby YouTube channel. In the 2018–19 season, some men's matches were broadcast on FreeSports.

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ The Oxford-Cambridge varsity matches in rugby union and association football were first held in 1872 and 1874 respectively although intercollegiate matches in association football date back earlier. [3] The 1869 Princeton vs. Rutgers football game was the first intercollegiate football game in the United States while the first intercollegiate rugby football game in the United States took place in 1874 when Harvard University played against McGill University.

References

  1. ↑ "RFU". England Rugby. Rugby Football Union. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
  2. ↑ "World's oldest varsity match returns to Scotland". The Herald (Glasgow). 19 May 2015. Archived from the original on 24 September 2018. Retrieved 23 September 2018.
  3. ↑ Harvey, Adrian (13 May 2013). Football: The First Hundred Years: The Untold Story. Routledge. pp. 41–45, 150–151. ISBN   978-1-134-26912-9.
  4. ↑ "About – The Varsity Match". The Varsity Match. Archived from the original on 19 March 2019. Retrieved 23 September 2018.
  5. ↑ "varsity match returns TO TRADITIONAL HOME ON THE BBC". Oxford University Rugby Football Club. 16 July 2015. Archived from the original on 24 September 2018. Retrieved 23 September 2018.
  6. ↑ "BBC One – The Boat Race". BBC. Archived from the original on 1 November 2018. Retrieved 23 September 2018.
  7. ↑ Richard Garner (12 June 2008). "Why Bath vs Loughborough is the real varsity match". The Independent. Archived from the original on 24 September 2018. Retrieved 23 September 2018.
  8. ↑ Matt Roberts (25 November 2015). "Durham's #BUCSWednesday breakdown". BUCS. Archived from the original on 15 October 2021. Retrieved 23 September 2018. Durham vs Loughborough on Wednesday 25th November is no ordinary day of University sport. It's been christened a Varsity and it will have all the hallmarks of one – jam packed, competitive and hectic. However, in truth, it will be so much more than that.
    Durham and Loughborough have topped the BUCS Points table every year since 2011/12 and it's for that reason that the day takes on such significance. It will be a celebration of top-level University sport, crucial in the outcome of this year's Premiership divisions and a veritable feast of sport for enthusiastic spectators.
  9. ↑ Simon Carey (21 November 2015). "Clash of the Titans – Durham vs Loughborough Varsity Preview". Palatinate . Archived from the original on 14 March 2017. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
  10. 1 2 "Women's BUCS Super Rugby to launch this season".
  11. ↑ "Team Brunel's Women's Rugby Union team Triumph in BUCS Super Rugby Playoff".
  12. ↑ "Welcome to the BUCS Promotion, Relegation and Knockout Information document for 2024-25" (PDF). www.bucs.org.uk.
  13. ↑ BUCS Super Rugby [@bucssuperrugby]; (18 August 2025). "BUCS Super Rugby Statement ahead of the 2025–26 season" – via Instagram.
  14. ↑ "BUCS Rugby Union Finals - Friday 28th March 2014". YouTube .
  15. ↑ "BUCS Rugby Union Men's Final 2015 - Loughborough v Leeds Beckett". YouTube . 28 March 2015.
  16. ↑ "The BUCS Rugby Union Championship Finals 2016". YouTube .
  17. ↑ "BUCS Men's Rugby Union Championship Final: Hartpury v Exeter - LIVE from Twickenham". YouTube . 30 March 2017.
  18. ↑ "BUCS Super Rugby Championship Final 2018: Hartpury v Cardiff Met". YouTube . 11 April 2018.
  19. ↑ "BUCS Super Rugby Championship Final 2019 | Leeds Beckett vs Hartpury (LIVE from Twickenham)". YouTube . 10 April 2019.
  20. ↑ "LIVE BUCS SUPER RUGBY FINAL | Durham Vs Exeter". YouTube . 13 April 2022.
  21. ↑ "REWIND | BUCS Super Rugby Final 2023 | Loughborough vs Exeter". YouTube . 10 April 2024.
  22. ↑ "Exeter vs Loughborough | LIVE BUCS Super Rugby Final". YouTube . 17 April 2024.
  23. ↑ "Loughborough vs Hartpury | Men's BUCS Super Rugby Milk Championship Final". YouTube . 16 April 2025.
  24. ↑ "BUCS Super Rugby 2020/21 season cancelled due to unpredictable coronavirus pandemic".
  25. ↑ "Radwan hat-trick as England crush Canada". BBC Sport.
  26. ↑ Alderman, Elgan. "Thibaud Flament: From Loughborough University fifths to debut for France".
  27. ↑ Bobby Bridge (5 July 2021). "Freddie Steward's England debut - how the national media rated the Leicester Tigers ace". Leicester Mercury. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  28. ↑ Harvey, Joe. "326 34 Google +0 275 0 "You could tell quickly that he was destined for big things" - Freddie Steward, England's rising star". Talking Rugby Union. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
  29. ↑ "Chiefs youngster makes Test debut".
  30. ↑ "A glimpse into the rise of athletic Christ Tshiunza".
  31. ↑ "Ireland v Italy Rugby Fixtures". Six Nations. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
  32. ↑ "Ross Vintcent University of Exeter EURFC Profile". University of Exeter. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
  33. ↑ "Wales Rugby Union Squad vs Georgia 2022". 15 November 2022.
  34. ↑ "Dafydd Jenkins EURFC Profile".
  35. ↑ "BUCS Rugby Union Finals - Friday 28th March 2014". YouTube .
  36. ↑ "BUCS Rugby Union Women's Final 2015 - Univ of Gloucestershire v. Cardiff Met". YouTube . 28 March 2015.
  37. ↑ "The BUCS Rugby Union Championship Finals 2016". YouTube . 24 March 2016.
  38. ↑ "BUCS Women's Rugby Union Championship Final: Northumbria v Edinburgh - LIVE from Twickenham". YouTube . 30 March 2017.
  39. ↑ "BUCS Rugby Union Women's Championship Final 2018: Exeter v Hartpury". YouTube . 11 April 2018.
  40. ↑ "BUCS Super Rugby Championship Final 2019 | Leeds Beckett vs Hartpury (LIVE from Twickenham)". YouTube . 10 April 2019.
  41. ↑ "LIVE Women's National League Final | Edinburgh vs Hartpury". YouTube . 13 April 2022.
  42. ↑ "Women's National League Final | Hartpury vs Exeter | Extended Highlights". YouTube . 21 April 2023.
  43. ↑ "Hartpury vs Loughborough | LIVE Women's National League Final". YouTube . 17 April 2024.
  44. ↑ "Cardiff Met vs Loughborough | Women's BUCS Super Rugby Milk Championship Final". YouTube . 16 April 2025.
  45. ↑ "The University Celestial 7s | Home of the BUCS 7s". The University Celestial 7s. Retrieved 22 May 2025.
  46. ↑ "Instagram".
  47. ↑ "Instagram".
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.