Rugby Sevens Championships 2025-26

DATES

Saturday 06 June 2026

VENUE

The Richmond Athletic Ground - https://maps.app.goo.gl/hXspjULKnCo7tdEk7

ADDRESS

Richmond Athletic Ground

Twickenham Road

Richmond

TW9 2SF

ENTRY OPENING DATE

Tuesday 10^th Feb 2026

STAGE 1 ENTRY CLOSING DATE

Team Events

Thursday 30^th April 2026 at 23:59 – Team Entry Deadline

(Deadline for teams to have been entered on BUCS Play by an Institution Administrator)

Tuesday 2^nd June 2025 at 23:59 – Team Join Deadline

(Players to have joined the respective event on BUCS Play)

Thursday 4^th June 2025 at 23:59 – Admin Approval Deadline

(Players to have been approved and assigned in a team by an Institution Administrator on BUCS Play)

ENTRY COSTS

£339.30 per team

STAGED ENTRY

Should the competition allow more entries a Stage 2 Entry window will open. Priority will remain with the entries received before the Stage 1 entry closing date. Entries received in the Stage 2 window and accepted into the competition, will be charged an additional 20% fee.

EVENTS AND BUCS POINTS AVAILABLE

Men’s Championship

Women’s Championship

Men’s Trophy

Women’s Trophy

Men’s Shield

Please see Appendix 1 and Reg 6 for BUCS Points available.

Institutions are only allowed to enter one team into each competition. Players are not allowed to play in both the Championship and the Trophy competitions. The Championship is for first teams only.

Each team can have a maximum of 13 players in a squad and a minimum of 9 players.

Women’s Championship

• This tournament is open to 1s teams only from the BUCS Premier (National) and Premier (North/South) leagues. If this competition reaches capacity, the highest ranked teams from finishing positions in the 2025-26 season will be selected.

Women’s Trophy

• This tournament is open to all 1^st teams from Tier 1 and below leagues as well as second teams from BUCS Premier (North/South). If this competition reaches capacity, priority will be given to the highest ranked first teams from Tier 1 and below followed by the highest ranked second teams. Where finishing positions are tied for the remaining spaces, random allocation will be used.
• An institution cannot withdraw a team whilst a lower ranked team of theirs remains in the event, for example, it would not be permitted to withdraw your 1^st team from the Championship and still field a 2^nd team in the Trophy.

Men’s Championship

• Entry to the Championship is open to institutions who have a 1st team in BSR or Premier 1. If this competition reaches capacity, the highest ranked teams from finishing positions in the 2025-26 season will be selected.

Men’s Trophy

• Entry to the Trophy is open to institutions who have a 1st team in Premier 2 or Tier 1 as well as institutions that are eligible to enter a 1^st team in the Championship - who shall be permitted to enter a 2^nd team in the Trophy, subject to them having a team in Premier 2 or below and entering a 1^st team in the Championship.
  • For example, Loughborough would not be permitted to enter a 2^nd team in the Trophy, unless they have also entered a 1^st team in the Championship.
• If this competition reaches capacity, priority will be given to the highest ranked first teams from Premier 2 and Tier 1 from the 2025-26 season, followed by 2^nd teams. Where finishing positions are tied for the remaining spaces, random allocation will be used.
• An institution cannot withdraw a team whilst a lower ranked team of theirs remains in the event, for example, it would not be permitted to withdraw your 1^st team from the Championship and still field a 2^nd team in the Trophy.

Men’s Shield

• Entry to the Shield is open to institutions who have a 1st team in Tier 1 or below as well as institutions that are eligible to enter a 1^st team in the Trophy – who shall be permitted to enter a 2^nd team in the Shield, subject to having a team in Tier 1 or below and entering a 1^st team in the Trophy.
• Similarly, institutions that are eligible to enter a 1^st team in the Championship and a 2^nd team in the Trophy, shall be permitted to enter a 3^rd team in the Shield, subject to them entering a 1^st team in the Championship and a 2^nd team in the Trophy and having an eligible team in Tier 1 or below.
• If this competition reaches capacity, priority will be given to the highest ranked first teams from Tier 1 and below from the 2025-26 season, followed by 2nd teams and subsequently 3^rd teams. Where finishing positions are tied for the remaining spaces, random allocation will be used.
• An institution cannot withdraw a team whilst a lower ranked team of theirs remains in the event, so, for example, it would not be permitted to withdraw your 2^nd team from the Trophy and still field a 3^rd team in the Shield.

Tier 1 Men’s 1^st teams must submit their reason for entering the Trophy or Shield via this form by the entry deadline, and BUCS will decide, at its discretion, which competition they compete in.

The expectation of institutions who are permitted to enter teams at multiple levels is that their squads reflect the expected standard of 1^st teams at that level. For example, an institution who enters a 3^rd team into the Shield is expected to field players who are of the ability of a Tier 1 team or below. E.G. If Durham were to enter a team into the Championship, Trophy and Shield, it would be expected that their Shield squad would reflect the standard of their 3^rd 15s team, who currently sit in Tier 1, or below.

To apply for this competition:

1. Entries will need to be submitted via the team entries section of our online entry system, BUCS Play (Instructions on how to do this can be found here)
2. Please speak to your Institution Administrator as they will need to enter the correct number of teams for you.
3. Competitors then need to apply for the respective event. (Instructions on how to do this can be found here)
4. Institution Administrators must assign competitors to the correct team during the approval process. (Instructions on how to do this can be found here)

Any data will be handled in accordance with BUCS Privacy Policy

By participating in this event you agree to adhere to BUCS General Event Disclaimer

To check whether you are eligible to compete in BUCS competitions, please visit REG 4 Individual Eligibility.

Trophy & Shield

Trophy & Shield Registration                                    7.00am – 8.30am

Trophy & Shield Referee Meeting                            8.45am

First Trophy & Shield Matches                                 9.30am

Trophy & Shield Finals                                               4pm – 5pm

Trophy & Shield Presentations                                 After last Trophy Final

Championship

Championship Registration                                       9.30am – 11am

Championship Referee Meeting                              11.15am

First Championship Matches                                    Midday

Championship Finals                                                  7.30pm – 8.30pm

Championship Presentations                                    After last Championship Final

Venue Close                                                               Midnight

RULES AND REGULATIONS 

BUCS Rugby Sevens Rules and Regulations can be found here.

RUS 2.3 Touch judge All teams must provide their own competent touch judge.

BUCS General Regulations can be found here

All competitors should be familiar with and understand available gender categories and regulations under REG 4.3. Please find further information on gender eligibility here.

Competitor withdrawals must be made by a competitors athletic/students union by emailing the event lead.

Please see REG 7.9 for our withdrawal policy

Teams who withdraw the after the team entry deadline (30^th Apr 2026) or who do not attend the event will be classed as a late withdrawal/no show and therefore will be charged the entry fee and fined £100.

Anyone wishing to take photos or video at this event must complete the BUCS Media Accreditation Form prior to the event.

BUCS reserves the right to prohibit photography equipment being used at a BUCS event. BUCS reserves the right to request that the individual ceases to take photographs, deletes any images and, if considered necessary, leaves the venue.

This will be released closer to the competition date.

BUCS’ mission is to provide exceptional student sporting experiences that inspire, develop and unite.

Critical to our success is our commitment to always providing safe, friendly and enjoyable environments for all participants. Whether competing, coaching, officiating, volunteering, working or spectating at these events, the welfare of all is critical to our mission.

To find out more or report a concern, please click here.

If you are having any problems with the BUCS Play app please contact BUCS app support prior to the entry closing date

All questions should in the first instance should be directed to your Institution Administration.