Trials and Tasters - 2025/2026

The American Football team welcomes all abilities from complete beginners to experienced players. They currently compete in the BUCS Premier National League and play regular matches and flag football throughout the year where all members are welcome to play.

Follow American Football on Instagram @Lboroafc

Archery at Loughborough caters for all abilities, from complete beginners to international level. All equipment is provided to get you started and you'll have the opportunity to learn from our high level coaches. The club compete in a local league alongside the indoor, outdoor and Team BUCS Championships.

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The Athletics Club caters for all levels from recreational runners to Olympic and Paralympic athletes! They compete in local leagues and the BUCS Championships within indoor, outdoor and cross country competitions!

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Wheelchair Basketball welcomes students who are experienced players and developing players, with 2 BUCS teams sitting below the Lightning programme. Join a taster session to find out more about the sport and the clubs offer.

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The Badminton team provides opportunities for club to elite level players. They currently have 5 men’s and 4 women’s teams that compete at BUCS and in the local Leicestershire League. Those looking to play more recreationally can access this through the IMS, Social Sport and Recreational Sport programmes.

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The Men's Basketball team caters for a wide range of abilities where everyone is welcome to try out! They compete in the BUCS Premier competition with a further 3 teams playing in various other BUCS leagues. There is also a competitive offer through the IMS (Hall Sport) programme, that any student can participate in, whether living in halls or not.

Follow Men's Basketball on Instagram @Lborobasketball

The Women's Basketball team caters for a wide range of abilities where everyone is welcome to try out! They compete in the BUCS Premier competition with their other teams playing in various other BUCS leagues. There is also a competitive offer through the IMS (Hall Sport) programme, that any student can participate in, whether living in halls or not.

Follow Women's Basketball on Instagram @Lborobasketball

The Boxing Team has an offer for everyone, from people with previous experience to those who are beginners or looking to stay fit! There is no requirement to compete, however there is a competition offer if performers wish to get involved. They compete in BUCS as well as other regional competitions and home shows throughout the year.

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Brand new to the Athletic Union, Calisthenics is the perfect club for those looking to join a fun community and build their strength or discover new skills such as hand-balancing and streetlifting. With sessions both on and off campus the club has an offer for anyone who wants to give this sport a try. 

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Canoe welcomes all abilities, from beginners to performance athletes. There are multiple disciplines so there is something for everyone! The club competes at a number of BUCS events per year, including Wildwater Canoeing, Slalom, Sprint, and Canoe Polo.

Follow Canoe on Instagram @lborocanoe

The Cheerleading Club has 2 competitive teams (Level 2 and Level 3) alongside a development team. The different teams allow all students of all abilities to be part of the club. They compete in the All-Star team and University teams competitions, alongside showcase events at Loughborough Sport fixtures.

Follow Cheerleading on Instagram @lborocheer

Loughborough Shooting club is open to people of all abilities, from novices to experienced shots. The club can provide equipment and there is no requirement to hold a gun licence. There have no set fixed teams, but when it comes to competing in BUCS they select the best shooters for each team. When it comes to friendly competitions e.g. non-BUCS, it will be first come first served.  

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The club caters to those from high level county cricket with sport scholarships . In total, there are 6 men's teams that compete in BUCS, County age Group competitions and Friendlies throughout the season. Those looking to play more recreationally can access this through the IMS, Social Sport and Recreational Sport programmes.

Follow Cricket (Men's) on Instagram @lborocricketmens

At Loughborough, we cater for all different levels, from Performance, who are Loughborough UCCE Women 1's (BUCS Prem North) and AU BUCS (2nd and 3rd team competing in BUCS Toer 1). The summer schedule allows players to compete in county and regional cricket as well as BUCS competitions. Those looking to play more recreationally can access this through the IMS, Social Sport and Recreational Sport programmes.

Follow Cricket (Women's) on Instagram @lborocricketwomens

Loughborough Students' Cycling Club is made up of members of all abilities - from some of the best cyclists in the country to complete novices, and from track sprinters to mountain bike riders. LSCC offers opportunities for everyone! The Lightning Cycling Academy provides a performance offer to elite female cyclists! There are competition teams within sprint and endurance cycling at BUCS and other events.

Follow Cycling on Instagram @lboro_cycling

Loughborough Dance offer lessons for all abilities! They have 9 different styles to choose from with at least one team per style. All teams perform in a winter and February showcase with the chance to take part in group or solo routines. Loughborough also hosts the largest inter-university competition in the UK where the Level 1 and 2 teams compete against 20+ other universities!

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We offer training session for both beginners and intermediate players as well as those who want to play competitively for BUCS. We also take part in multiple one day and social events that people can attend for some fun!

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Equestrian at Loughborough caters for all levels, from people who have never sat on a horse before to people who have ridden for years. They have various teams representing Loughborough in both showjumping and dressage, competing at varying levels in both BUCS and a friendly league against local universities. The development squad is for riders aiming to compete in teams in the future, with regular training each week to work towards end of semester inter-club competitions. The club runs weekly recreational sessions for those who are new to riding and want to improve their skills and confidence.

Follow Equestrian on Instagram @lboroequestrian

Fencing has an offer for experienced and novice fencers! They currently have one men's and one women's BUCS teams who both compete in the  Midlands 1A divisions. There are also multiple individual competitions throughout the year in three disciplines: Foil, Epee and Sabre.

Follow Fencing on Instagram @lboro.fencing

The men's football programme provides numerous competitive opportunities. The performance team competes in non-league Step 4 (Northern Premier League Midlands Division 1), FA Cup, and FA Trophy matches. In terms of the BUCS offer, the Athletic Union football club has six teams competing across the top four tiers of BUCS University Football. There is a huge pathway including Intra Mural Sport football, with A and B leagues and Cup competitions, 6-a-side offer through Social Leagues and a recreational sport offer. 

Follow Football (Men's) on Instagram @lboroaufootballmens

The women's football club has a performance offer where the team competes in the FA Women's National League and in the BUCS Northern Premier Division. The club has 3 other BUCS teams who all compete in weekly league fixtures.

Follow Football (Women's) on Instagram @lborofootballwomens

The Futsal Club welcomes all abilities to the club! The club consists of 5 men's BUCS teams and 2 women's BUCS teams. The men's performance team competes in the top tier of English Futsal, with the development team competing in the second tier. The Women's team has two teams competing in BUCS.

Follow Futsal on Instagram @lboro_futsal

The Futsal Club welcomes all abilities to the club! The club consists of 5 men's BUCS teams and 2 women's BUCS teams. The men's performance team competes in the top tier of English Futsal, with the development team competing in the second tier. The Women's team has two teams competing in BUCS.

Follow Futsal on Instagram @lboro_futsal

Gaelic Football welcomes all levels of players from complete beginners to experienced players. They have a men's team competing in BUCS and train 2-3 times a week.

Follow Gaelic Football on Instagram @lborogaa

Loughborough Golf comprises of golfers who have a handicap range from scratch to mid-single figures. They have 5 mixed teams. The competitive squads compete in the Premier South, Midlands 1A and Midlands 2 A&B BUCS Leagues!

Follow Golf on Instagram @lborogolf

Loughborough Students Gymnastics Club is a welcoming gymnastics club suitable for all levels and abilities ranging from beginner to elite level gymnastics. The club engages in numerous BUCS and UGC competitions throughout the year ranging from regional to national events.

Follow Gymnastics on Instagram @lborogymnasts

Handball welcome players who are complete beginners and those who are more experienced. They have 2 women's teams and 3 men's teams where 1s and 2s compete in the yearly BUCS tournament. The 1s squads are both in the Northern Premier Division with the Men's 2's competing in the Regional North Division. The other squads take part in regular matches against other university teams for development.

Follow Handball on Instagram @lborohandball

The hockey team provide highly competitive offers for students to take part in. The men's performance team is part of the National League Division 1 North conference (outdoor), National Division 1 (indoor) and BUCS National Premier League. Their other 5 teams compete in weekly BUCS fixtures across multiple tiers. 

Follow Hockey (Men's) on Instagram @lborohockeymens

The hockey team provide a highly competitive offer for students to trial for. The women’s performance team is part of Women’s Premier League and BUCS National Premier League. Their other 5 teams compete in weekly BUCS fixtures across multiple tiers and in national and regional leagues at the weekend. There is also a Hockey Super Series offer through the IMS programme. 

Follow Hockey (Women's) on Instagram @lborohockeywomens

The Jiu Jitsu club welcomes everyone from beginners to experienced martial artists. The club gives you the opportunity to attend regional training courses, national competitions and gradings. The team competes at the Atemi Nationals (BUCS) and Randori Nationals.

Follow Jiu Jitsu on Instagram @lborojiujitsu

Judo at Loughborough caters for all levels of experience, varying from complete novice to elite performers. They partner with a local high-performance club which allows them to partner with competitors at both national and international level. The club also enters the BUCS competitions.

Follow Judo on Instagram @lborojudo

Karate at Loughborough provides two sections, Shotokan Karate and Wado Ryu Karate, both offering training to all ability levels. The club competes in various tournaments and BUCS competitions.

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Korfball is one of the newest AU sports on campus and welcomes all ability levels and genders to join the club! They have two teams that compete in the BUCS National Championships and the BUCS National Plate respectively, with a third team that competes in regional competitions.

Follow Korfball on Instagram @lborokorfball

Loughborough Kung Fu Club offers opportunities for complete beginners and more experienced members to participate. They have regular training opportunities alongside competing in the Kuen Five Animals Shaolin Kung Fu Championships.

Follow Kung Fu on Instagram @lborokungfu

The Lacrosse club has an offer for complete beginners and experienced players. The club currently has 3 men's teams and 4 women's teams that compete in weekly BUCS leagues. There is also a large beginner programme to allow for enjoyment of the sport or progression up the squads.

Follow Lacrosse on Instagram @lborolacrosse

Lifesaving is a mixed ability club with both performance and development squads. They compete in teams of 4 people with similar ability, in multiple events throughout the year, with weekly pool and land training sessions.

Follow Lifesaving on Instagram @lborolifesaving

Loughborough Students' MMA Club offers an opportunity for both beginner and experienced fighters to train and develop. They compete in multiple competitions throughout the year, as well as hosting the Loughbrough MMA Homeshow.

Follow Mixed Martial Arts on Instagram @lboro_mma

The Mountaineering Club welcomes new members and provide an exciting experience to outdoor climbing and outdoor pursuit activities. Mountaineering covers multiple disciplines such as bouldering. The club competes in the annual BUCS competition where 5 males and 5 females from the club are selected to compete. In addition to this, they also compete at more regional competitions as well as the casual competitions put on by the Climbing Station.

Follow Mountaineering on Instagram @lboromountaineering

Muay Thai and Kickboxing has an offer for any ability across many disciplines. The club focuses on technique, sparring, strength, conditioning, and fight preparation in their training sessions. As a beginner or intermediate member, you will be able to compete at nationals as fight matches are based completely on skill level. As advanced or expert you will also be able to compete at higher levels at nationals and outside of the club in UK wide competitions as yourself and committee see fit. All levels will spar each other (if you feel comfortable sparring) as this advances all levels.

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The netball club have multiple levels to the club. The Lightning Team is a performance programme for elite level players which is supported by the 1s BUCS team. Below this there are 5 other BUCS teams that all compete in weekly leagues. There is also a recreational netball offer through IMS and Social Sport pathways. Netball also offers opportunities for men to train and compete in friendly fixtures.

Follow Netball on Instagram @lboronetball

Orienteering at Loughborough caters for all abilities from novices to experienced runners. The club competes in all BUCS competitions throughout the year and frequently attend regional competitions.

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Brand new for 2025, following the worldwide phenomenon of the sport there is now an AU Padel Club. The AU club offers both competitive and development membership for those ready to represent Loughborough in inter-university competitions or for those who want to keep improving their new found skills.

Follow Padel on Instagram @loughborough_padel

The Loughborough Polo team caters for all abilities, so both beginners and advanced riders are welcome. They compete in 3 main tournaments throughout the year in the fight for the national championship title. Alongside these, the club hosts inter-club and varsity matches, both indoor and outdoor, for even more opportunities to participate!

Follow Polo on Instagram @lboropolo

Powerlifting and weightlifting at Loughborough caters for elite and developing athletes. The Powerlifting & Weightlifting club competes in annual BUCS events as as entering teams at age-group senior national championship standard and regional competitions. The club is made up of four teams, Weightlifting Competition Squad, Weightlifting Development Squad, Powerlifting Competition Squad & Powerlifting Development Squad.

Follow Powerlifting and Weightlifting on Instagram @lboroplwl

Recently forming its own AU Club, Rifle is a category of competitive shooting that involves using rifles as the primary means of hitting a target. The club will be competing in multiple competitions across the year including BUCS Short Range, Long Range and Full Bore Championships. Due to licensing laws, to try this sport you must fill out the clubs declaration form before beginning any activity. 

Follow Shooting on Instagram @lboroshooting

Rowing welcomes all levels of ability to the club! They currently have approximately 80 members with four teams divided into Novice Men and Women and Senior Men and Women. Rowing enters all BUCS events, heads (including WEHORR) and regattas (including Marlow and Henley).

Follow Rowing on Instagram @lbororowing

Loughborough Rugby League providesan offer where both performance and developing players are welcome to play with constant opportunities to develop into the 1st team. The men’s club competes in the BUCS Southern Prem (1st team), Midlands tier 1 (2nd team), whilst also competing within the relevant BUCS cups. Both teams also enter the BUCS 9's competitions.

Follow Rugby League on Instagram @lbororugbyleague

The Men’s Rugby Union club has 6 teams providing an offer for elite performance to developing players. The performance team competes in National 2 West and BUCS Super Rugby while 2s-5s compete in various BUCS leagues with weekly fixtures. The 6s compete in a local regional league. There is also a recreational offer to play rugby through the IMS programme and a Super Series competition. 

Follow Rugby Men on Instagram @lbororugbymens

The Women’s Rugby Union club is made of 3 teams below the Loughborough Lightning programme. The 1st team compete in BUCS Super Rugby with the 2s and 3s competing in National and Regional BUCS leagues. For those looking to play rugby for the first time there is the Road to Rugby Offer ran through the IMS programme. 

Follow Rugby Union Women on Instagram @lbororugbywomens

Sailing and Windsurfing at Loughborough caters for all abilities from complete beginners to experienced sailors and windsurfers. Throughout the year, they compete in a number of team racing events all across the country and the BUCS championships, offering great sailing and social opportunities. The club also compete and host their own event called the Lemming.

Follow Sailing & Windsurfing on Instagram @lborosailingandwindsurfing

Snow sports caters for all abilities from complete beginners to professionals. The club offers skiing and snowboarding, recreationally and competitively, and trains regularly with sessions consisting of race, freestyle on dry slope and real snow or gym-based sessions. If you are interested in competing, they compete in both race and freestyle at BUCS, BUDS and even SASC in the Scottish Highlands. On top of this their racers compete in the Kings racing league throughout the year against university’s all over the country.

Follow Snowsports on Instagram @loughboroughsno

Softball, Baseball and Rounders have many different teams to suit all different abilities. Their teams compete in many different competitions throughout the year including the National University Softball and Baseball Championships, the East Midlands Indoor Softball League, the East Midlands Invitational Championships and the Northern University Baseball League, among many others.

Follow Softball & Baseball on Instagram @lborosb

The squash club has five teams in total: Men’s 1st team, Men’s 2nd team, Men’s 3rd team, Women’s 1st team and Women’s 2nd team. The squash teams compete weekly in BUCS games against other universities and are involved with local leagues against teams in the area. 

Follow Squash on Instagram @lborosquash

The Sub Aqua club welcome everyone as they offer the opportunity to gain qualifications for all levels and experiences. They train weekly on a Wednesday evening, offering lectures then pool skills at the University Swimming Pool as well as training in open water at Stoney Cove, which is nearby and has a safe environment for students to learn.

Follow Sub Aqua on Instagram @lboroscuba

The Swimming club caters for a wide range of abilities from Olympians to club level swimmers. They compete in many events over the year such as BUCS and offer a para swimming programme too.

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The Table Tennis club has six teams competing in BUCS: four men's and two women's performance teams. The Men's 1's are in Division 1, Men's 2's and 3's are in Division 2 and Men's 4's are in Division 3. Both the Women's 1's and 2's are in Division 1. They also have 7 Loughborough League teams which are available for Performance and Academy players.

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Taekwondo offers classes for both beginners and experienced members. The club actively encourages its members to take part in competitions throughout the year including BUCS, the GTUK National Championships, University Championships, and BUTL Nationals and World Championships. Anyone can enter any competition they wish, regardless of belt level or previous experience!

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Loughborough tennis offers the opportunity to get involved across all levels and abilities. They have 2 performance teams, 3 BUCS squads and an AU development team. For those who want to participate recreationally, there is an offer through the IMS and Social Sport programmes.

Follow Tennis on Instagram @lborotennis

Touch Rugby is a mixed club open to players from beginner and experienced backgrounds who are looking to be active and develop their skills and teamwork. The club has 3 teams that compete in various BUCS and UTC competitions across the country.

Follow Touch Rugby on Instagram @lborotouchrugby

Loughborough Trampoline is an inclusive club that caters for everyone, from novices to elite performers. For the more experienced individuals, there are opportunities to compete in BUCS and League competitions, as well as the Northern England Universities Trampoline league (NEUT). NEUT competitions also allow anyone at any level to get involved.

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Triathlon are an inclusive and welcoming club with both performance and AU BUCS squads. Teams compete at BUCS events as well as age-group national series competitions. Training involves frequent sessions through the week, making the most of Loughborough’s world class track, swimming pool and gym facilities.

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Ultimate frisbee is a mixed club that welcome everyone from beginners, all the way to experienced players. Their team, known as 'Haze', regularly compete in men's, mixed and women's tournaments, including BUCS, across the country. For beginners, there are many tournaments at the start of the year where you can compete against other beginners from other universities to have fun and develop.

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Volleyball is a mixed club that welcomes experienced players and those who want to play recreationally. They have 3 men’s and 3 women’s teams that compete at four league levels: University, National, Regional and Local. At National level, both their men’s and women’s teams compete in the second division and battle for promotion into division one. The Men's 1s recently gained promotion into BUCS Premier North for the 25/26 season. There is also inclusive opportunities available in sitting volleyball.

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The Water Polo club competes in BUCS throughout the year and with both men's and women's squads, with approximately 60 members. Both Men's and Women's 1st teams compete in Premier North, with the newly added Men's 2s competing in Midlands 2A.  Do not hesitate to tag along to one of our taster sessions, as we have space available for everyone.

Follow Water Polo on Instagram @lborowaterpolo