BUCS Rugby League National League

The Men's BUCS Rugby League National League is the highest tier of men's university rugby league competition in the United Kingdom, organised by British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS).^[1] It features six teams and sits at the top of the BUCS rugby league pyramid, above regional Premier and Tier divisions. The unified National League was introduced for the 2024–25 season.^[2]

University rugby league under BUCS (and predecessors) dates back decades, but the modern structure evolved from regional Premier divisions.

Prior to 2024–25, the top level consisted of separate Premier North and Premier South leagues, with occasional playoffs for promotion, cross-division challenges, or national qualification. A full national championship final was held in some seasons (often at Big BUCS Wednesday), but the focus was regional until the 2024 restructure created a single six-team National League with integrated league and knockout phases.^[2]

2019–20:

• Premier North won by Northumbria (24 pts, undefeated).^[3]

• Premier South won by St Mary's (30 pts, undefeated).^[4]
• Season affected by early COVID-19 disruptions.

2020–21:

• Cancelled due to COVID-19.^[5]

2021–22:

• Premier North won by Northumbria (30 pts, undefeated).^[6]

• Premier South won by St Mary's (18 pts)
• Playoffs introduced (e.g., North Play Off: Liverpool John Moores 1s won vs Nottingham 1s; South Play Off: Birmingham 1s won vs Swansea 1s).^[7]

2022–23:

• Premier North won by Leeds Beckett (30 pts, undefeated).^[8]

• Premier South won by Exeter (27 pts). ^[9]

• South Play Off: Won by Nottingham ^[10]

2023–24:

• Premier North won by Northumbria (30 pts, undefeated). ^[11]

• Premier South won by Loughborough (30 pts, undefeated).^[12]

• No Play Offs.

2024–25:

• The 2024–25 season marked the launch of the Men's National League, with Leeds Beckett topping the table (30 pts) and winning the National Championship final against Northumbria.^[13][14]

• South Play Off: Won by Nottingham 1s - Awarded a walkover in the Semi-Final vs Liverpool John Moores 1s they progressed to play Newcastle 1s who had a BYE into the Final. Nottingham won 38-24^[15].

The six teams competing in the 2025–26 season are:

• Exeter University
• Leeds Beckett University
• Leeds University
• Loughborough University
• Northumbria University
• University of Nottingham

(All six have competed in the National League since its inception.)^[2]

The season consists of:

• A league phase: double round-robin (10 matches per team).^[16]
• National Championship: knockout for qualifiers, final at Big BUCS Wednesday.^[16]
• Events like Championship 9s (October).^[16]

Points: 3 for win, 0 for loss (walkover adjustments apply).^[17]

Season	League Winner	Runners Up	Prem Play Off Winner	Notes
BUCS Prem North & Prem South
2019–20	Northumbria (North) & St Mary's (South)	Leeds Beckett (North) & Gloucestershire (South)	No Play Offs
2020–21	Cancelled (COVID-19)
2021–22	Northumbria (North) & St Mary's (South)	Leeds Beckett (North) & Loughborough (South)	Liverpool John Moores (North) & Birmingham (South)
2022–23	Leeds Beckett (North) & Exeter (South)	Northumbria (North) & Loughborough (South)	Nottingham (South)
2023–24	Northumbria (Premier North)	Leeds Beckett (North) & Exeter (South)	No Play Offs
BUCS National League
2024–25	Leeds Beckett	Northumbria	Nottingham
2025–26	Northumbria	Leeds Beckett	No Play Off

Adjustments for walkovers included.^[17]

Bottom National League team(s) may relegate to Premier/ Tier divisions via playoffs or standings; top regional teams promote.^[16]

The pyramid has evolved:

• Since 2024–25: Level 1 National League; Level 2 Northern/Southern Tier 1 & 2.
• Pre-2024: Level 1 Premier North/South; lower Midlands/Northern/South Eastern/Western Tiers (varying by year).

• Rugby league in England
• BUCS Super Rugby (rugby union equivalent)
• British Universities and Colleges Sport