On the invitation of British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS), Member of the European University Sports Association Executive Committee, Bill Thompson and EUSA Director of Sports Events Liam Smith, attended the 2026 edition of BUCS Big Wednesday, held on March 24–25, 2026, at Loughborough University.

The flagship event of the UK university sport calendar brought together more than 2,000 participants representing 60 university teams, competing in finals across 16 different sports. BUCS Big Wednesday once again demonstrated the scale and quality of university sport in the United Kingdom, providing a platform for top-level student-athlete performance and institutional engagement.

Hosted by Will Roberts, BUCS CEO, Sam Bell-Minogue, BUCS Deputy CEO & Director of Sport, and Leyanne Jenkins, BUCS Head of International Student Sport, the event also served as an opportunity for strategic discussions between EUSA and BUCS representatives. Meetings focused on the future development of university sport in the UK, as well as the continued involvement of British universities in upcoming European competitions, including the European Universities Games (EUG) 2026 and European Universities Championships (EUC) 2026.

In addition to the Big Wednesday programme, Will Roberts and Liam Smith attended the 2026 Sheffield Varsity Ice Hockey match. The event, featuring the University of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam University, attracted an audience of approximately 8,000 spectators, highlighting the strong engagement and visibility of university sport within the local community.

The visit reinforced the ongoing cooperation between EUSA and BUCS, supporting shared objectives of strengthening international participation, enhancing competitive structures, and promoting university sport across Europe.