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]
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:
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
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[11]
Premier South[12]
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
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
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[14]
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[15]
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[14]
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[16]
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[17]
Nottingham Trent Renegades
1
7
0
0.125
74
167
2
Premier South[18]
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[19]
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[20]
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[20]
Premier South[21]
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[22]
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[23]
Premier South[24]
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[25]
Brighton Tsunami
0
8
0
0.000
15
350
0
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
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)[27]
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)[28]
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)[29]
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)[30]
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)[31]
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)[32]
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)[33]
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
National Championship Games
Season
Winning team
Losing team
notes
2007–2008
Southampton Stags
54
Staffordshire Stallions
20
2008–2009
Birmingham Lions
42
Newcastle Raiders
2
2009–2010
Birmingham Lions
27
Loughborough Aces
16
2010–2011
Portsmouth Destroyers
20
Birmingham Lions
19
2011–2012
Hertfordshire Hurricanes
37
Birmingham Lions
19
2012–2013[34]
Birmingham Lions
17
Hertfordshire Hurricanes
13
2013–2014[35]
Stirling Clansmen
20
Birmingham Lions
15
2014–2015[36]
Stirling Clansmen
46
Hertfordshire Hurricanes
6
2015–2016[37]
Birmingham Lions
19
Stirling Clansmen
13
2016–2017
Stirling Clansmen
10
Durham Saints
7
MVP: SC QB Andres Donat
2017–2018[38]
Durham Saints
17
Derby Braves
6
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.
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[40]
NTU Renegades
42
Southampton Stags
28
MVP: NTU QB Danny Miller
2013–2014[41]
Swansea Titans
38
Royal Holloway Bears
12
MVP: 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.
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)
2022-2023
K.K. Brooks (Penn Quakers)
References
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