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.
