For the love of BUCS Wednesday

“No classes — what more could I want?” says third-year chemistry student and korfball player Fred Wilson when asked why he loves Wednesday. For student-athletes and society members Wednesday is not just another day — it’s sacred.

But what creates this midweek magic? What makes it the Union’s busiest club night? What drives students to skip morning classes, and endure grueling seven-hour bus rides to Nottingham — no air conditioning, a bus driver‘s questionable Oasis playlist blaring through the speakers?

For some, it's the sweet taste of the post-match pint. For others, it's the excitement of seeing their Wednesday night hookup. And for many, it’s about belonging to a team, a community, and a tradition.

BUCS — British Universities and Colleges Sport — is the UK’s governing body for university sports. This organisation ensures that the leagues run smoothly. Thanks to BUCS, university teams compete weekly, with Wednesday dedicated to fixtures across almost every sport.

St Andrews University is home to many sports enthusiasts and high-performance athletes. Some students from ex-professional footballers to current Scotland internationals and future golf stars, see Wednesday as a chance to showcase their skills outside of their degree.

Several St Andrews’ teams compete in the Premier North league, the highest BUCS division. The commitment from these teams is unmatched — twelve-hour round trips in cramped, non-air-conditioned buses are the norm. For them, the thrill of facing top-tier opposition outweighs the social envy of missing Pablos at The Union.

BUCS aims to ”provide students with exceptional sporting experiences that are inspiring, developing, and unifying.” But let’s be honest — the real unification often happens after the final whistle, later in the evening, when teams descend on Main Bar on a collective mission to ‘finish The Rainbow’ (a challenge to drink every flavour of Pablo).

Then there’s Sinners, the once-a-month madness that transforms 601 into a sea of sports teams in crazy costumes. Each club sticks to its theme — Magic Mike, togas, rodeo, or apres-ski — creating the kind of chaos only BUCS Wednesday can deliver.

The worst thing about BUCS Wednesday? The brutal Thursday morning wake-up. That 9 am lecture looms, attended only by the brave. That one final pint? It wasn’t necessary — but at the moment, it felt like the best idea in the world.

In its most recent impact report, BUCS outlined goals to enhance student well-being, academic performance, and employability. You see, the skills learned from being part of a team — the discipline, the resilience, the camaraderie—stay with you long after university.

BUCS Wednesday — it happens once a week, yet its magic never fades. For some, it's about the competition. For others, it's the social side. But for everyone, it’s about the sense of belonging.

Men’s 1s lacrosse captain Daniel Fatigati and football president Fabian Thies echoed this sentiment — what makes Wednesday special is not just the sport or the night out. It’s the community that comes with it.

For the love of the competition. For the love of community. For the love of pints.

For the love of BUCS Wednesday.

Image from Wikimedia Commons