UK PADEL will deliver the first British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) Padel Championships in May after the sport was officially recognised by the governing body for higher education sport.
Following a “highly competitive” tender process, UK PADEL was appointed the official delivery partner for the inaugural 2025/26 championships at Slazenger Padel North in Leeds on 9-10 May, as well as the 2026/27 event.
In February last year, UK PADEL held its first Universities Championships in Bristol and, separately, the National Universities Padel Tennis League has been running nationwide since the autumn term of 2024.
May’s event in Leeds, however, will be the first padel event under the BUCS umbrella.
It will feature men’s and women’s competitions, with teams made up of two to three players, giving institutions the flexibility to include one reserve player.
In future seasons, both parties will explore the potential introduction of a mixed competition depending on the demand and growth of the sport across the Higher Education sector.
“New opportunities for students…”
Neal Kington, BUCS Head of Competitions said: “We’re delighted to appoint UK PADEL as the delivery partner for our first-ever BUCS Padel Championships. Their expertise and commitment to growing the sport make them the ideal partner to help us stage a high-quality, student-focused event.
“We’re really looking forward to working alongside UK PADEL to deliver an exciting weekend of competition, great atmosphere and new opportunities for students to experience padel through BUCS.”
Nick Baker, CEO of UK PADEL added: “The BUCS Padel Championships perfectly capture what UK PADEL events are trying to achieve.
“We want to create high-quality, inclusive competitions that bring people together and provide a clear pathway from schools to universities and into the adult game.
“Seeing so many universities represented, the level of play on court, and the sense of camaraderie off it shows that padel is thriving in the university space. This weekend is a powerful example of how the sport is growing in the right way, with community, accessibility and long-term sustainability at its heart.”
Entry cost is £140 per team and entry is via the BUCS Play system.
