As university teams across the UK are making their way to Nottingham for the England Handball BUCS finals this weekend, we sat down with previous winners Izzy from Loughborough Women and Aaron from Oxford Men to talk about past glories and get ourselves ready for the big weekend.
What does the BUCS competition represent for you?
Izzy: The BUCS competition represents a time where the whole club can come together for the entire weekend, support each other and compete. We’re one of the biggest clubs to enter into BUCS, with a team entered in each category, with each team making it in the finals. This is massive for us, it gives each team so much motivation to do the club proud and leave everything on court.
Aaron: BUCS is an incredible opportunity to compete at a high level against other universities while also connecting with students from across the UK. It’s more than just a competition—it’s a chance to share our passion for Handball with everyone.
What does it take to win the Finals weekend?
I: In BUCS, confidence and mental resilience is a large part of the game. It may not be the handball that our teams are used to, but we love the challenge, and it motivates us even further to dig deep and give everything we’ve got to get a medal.
A: Winning BUCS requires a strong team performance throughout an intense weekend of matches. It’s not just about skill on the court but also about the preparation leading up to it.
How has your season been so far?
I: This season is the best Loughborough has ever seen. Over our 4 teams, all but one BUCS match has been won, and in the league our W1 have gone unbeaten, and our M1 have qualified for final 4 for the first time ever. This has been an amazing year, and we’re looking forward to making it even better with some good results in BUCS.
A: This has been a successful season across the club, with all our teams competing at the top of their respective competitions and we are ready to carry that momentum into BUCS.
What are your expectations for the 2025 BUCS Finals?
I: Our entire club is looking forward to BUCS this year, and each team is hopeful for a medal. This is the most potential we have had in years, and we are excited to show this at the weekend and come away with some great results.
A: We’re looking forward to an exciting weekend of high-level Handball, making the most of every moment on the court. And of course, our goal is to bring the trophy home again!
The time is nearly upon us! Make your way to David Ross Sports Village at University of Nottingham for the BUCS Finals 2025!
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