British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) will work with British Fencing to develop a regional competition structure under plans drawn up by its innovative Sport Review.

The ongoing process, officially launched in May 2018, has reached the end of Cycle One and after an extensive consultation, a variety of new programmes have been approved.

The fencing proposal, given the green light for into implementation from September, focuses on providing a more localised and accessible competitive opportunity for student-athletes.

Commenting on the new strategy for university sport, BUCS CEO Vince Mayne said:
“Each year BUCS sport programmes impacts some 125,000 students across the UK. The way students engage in sport and their university studies is ever changing – it is important that we remain at the forefront of innovation and continue to meet their needs.
“The new programmes will develop and enhance various sports at all levels of the sporting spectrum – from grassroots to performance level – ultimately, creating an inclusive sporting environment that lives up to BUCS’ mission of the best university sport experience in the world.”

BUCS – celebrating 100 years of British University Sport in 2019 – are consulting National Governing Bodies, its members and representatives from universities across the UK. Over 80 sports attended a Briefing Day in May 2018 which outlined a new opportunity to propose changes or additions to the BUCS Competitions Programme. The plans were reviewed and put forward for implementation after a successful meeting of the BUCS National Competitions Group on Tuesday 26 February.

This offer will break new ground for BUCS, as they look to develop more accessible events on a national scale in partnership with National Governing Bodies. The changes coincide with the conclusion of BUCS Inclusion Week and through alterations to BUCS competitions hope to enshrine the values celebrated over the last seven days. Cycle Two, set to open in April 2019, will highlight possible changes or additions to the programme for the 2020-21 season.