Swansea University “Bucs” its trend

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Swansea University is on course to achieve its highest ever points total in the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) overall championships 2012/13.

This is encouraging news for the teams as they step up their training for the forthcoming annual “head-to-head” battle for the Welsh Varsity Shield.

Bucs was established in 2008 from the merger of British Universities Sports Association (BUSA) and University College Sport (UCS). BUCS delivers 50 sports (everything from archery to ultimate frisbee) to almost 170 member institutions (now including some FE Colleges), comprising a busy league programme of over 4500 teams and over 100 championships events every year.

Swansea currently sit a best-ever 21st position in the table aided by some superb performances from many of the University’s sports teams. At the end of 2012 the women’s hockey 1sts remained unbeaten in both the league and the cup and the men’s badminton 1st team sit two points clear of second-placed Exeter at the top of their Western 2B league. Honourable mentions should also be made of the women’s Fencing 1sts, Volleyball 1sts and Netball 1sts as well as the men’s Hockey 3rds, Fencing 1sts and Squash1sts.

Sports Officer Imogen Stanley is pleased with the University’s sporting progress, and suggests there is no reason things can’t further improve. “Last season’s 25th position was our best finish ever in BUCS and we’re on course to improve that once again. The University seems to be taking sport more seriously now and is recognising its importance to the students, and for marketing and promotion with our links to Swansea City, the Osprey’s and the Harriers. We undoubtedly have big aims for the next few years, leading up to our centenary in 2020.”

Ticket fever

The sprint up the table comes at an important psychological time with the Welsh Varsity Shield competition looming on the horizon. The annual battle between Swansea University and Cardiff University takes place in the last week of April. Over 25 events take place over the course of a week with the crescendo Varsity rugby match taking place in the cauldron of the Wales Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on Wednesday 24th April. Over 14,500 spectators attended last year’s match. 

Other sports represented include hockey, squash, badminton, lacrosse, rowing, golf, basketball, football, netball, fencing and an array of other sports including martial arts. This is a fundraising event with proceeds going to a number of worthy causes.

  • BUCS is the national governing body for Higher Education (HE) sport in the UK. The BUCS mission is to enhance the student experience through sport, whether it’s through participation in one of the 51 sports on offer or being part of developing sport at their institution.