Thursday, 13 March 2025
The pinnacle of university team sports, British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) Big Wednesday, is set to take place in Loughborough on the 18th and 19th of March 2025, and the University of Nottingham is making history once again.
This year, the University of Nottingham has secured an unprecedented 18 teams in National Championship finals and a record-breaking 31 teams in major finals overall. No other university in recent years has ever achieved this feat, cementing Nottingham’s reputation as a powerhouse in university team sport.
BUCS Big Wednesday is the culmination of months of intense competition, where only the very best student teams battle their way through the league and knockout stages to earn a place in the finals. The event showcases the highest level of student sport in the UK, with Championship finals featuring the top premier league teams and trophy finals offering a stage for elite teams from the second tier of BUCS competition.
With anticipation building for the two-day event in Loughborough, excitement is at an all-time high among the Nottingham squads, staff, and supporters. The Green and Gold will be out in force as the University of Nottingham aims to make history with its largest-ever finals representation.
Heading to only their second ever National Championship final, Men’s Water Polo Captain, Albert Povall, is eagerly anticipating diving into the pool and feels the anticipation building ahead of a big occasion for him and his team.
To win on Wednesday would only be the cherry on top of an amazing year, with a top group of guys. The Water Polo Club has been a huge part of my University life for the past three years and to give something back and be able to captain the first ever men’s championship winning team would be a fairy-tale for me.
For a provisional schedule of when and where the finals will take place you can visit the BUCS Big Wednesday official website. You can also watch plenty of BUCS Big Wednesday action live on both Tuesday 18th and Wednesday 19th March - including the Men's Water Polo final - on BUCS' YouTube channel.
One member of the Nottingham contingent playing at BUCS Big Wednesday and is no stranger to a BUCS Championship final is Women’s Hockey captain, Maddie Axford, who will be competing in her 4th Championship Hockey final in as many years. She told UoN Sport that this could be their biggest challenge yet.
Winning our 4th national championship in a row at University of Nottingham would be an unforgettable experience. BUCS Big Wednesday has been the highlight of my time at University, so being able to win in my last year would be truly special. This is likely to be the most competitive final we have faced over the last three years. However, my expectations haven't changed. We will step onto the pitch with confidence, feed off the energy of our crowd, and maximise every opportunity. We’d love you to get down and support us!
Tickets for the eagerly anticipation National Championship finals held in Loughborough for University of Nottingham students and staff can be found here.
For more information on our teams, their route to the finals and to track their results please visit our BUCS Big Wednesday website.
Notes to editors:
About the University of Nottingham
Ranked 24 in Europe and 15th in the UK by the QS World University Rankings: Europe 2024, the University of Nottingham is a founding member of Russell Group of research-intensive universities. Studying at the University of Nottingham is a life-changing experience, and we pride ourselves on unlocking the potential of our students. We have a pioneering spirit, expressed in the vision of our founder Sir Jesse Boot, which has seen us lead the way in establishing campuses in China and Malaysia - part of a globally connected network of education, research and industrial engagement.
Nottingham was crowned Sports University of the Year by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024 – the third time it has been given the honour since 2018 – and by the Daily Mail University Guide 2024.
The university is among the best universities in the UK for the strength of our research, positioned seventh for research power in the UK according to REF 2021. The birthplace of discoveries such as MRI and ibuprofen, our innovations transform lives and tackle global problems such as sustainable food supplies, ending modern slavery, developing greener transport, and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
The university is a major employer and industry partner - locally and globally - and our graduates are the third most targeted by the UK's top employers, according to The Graduate Market in 2024 report by High Fliers Research.
We lead the Universities for Nottingham initiative, in partnership with Nottingham Trent University, a pioneering collaboration between the city’s two world-class institutions to improve levels of prosperity, opportunity, sustainability, health and wellbeing for residents in the city and region we are proud to call home.
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