Further education learners from across Wales are preparing to compete on the national stage after an impressive showing at the regional qualifiers for the AoC Sport National Championships 2026. Widely recognised as the largest further education sporting competition in the UK, the championships bring together thousands of learners each year to compete for national titles while celebrating the positive impact of sport in colleges.
The 2026 championships will take place from 17 to 19 April at the University of Nottingham and surrounding local facilities. Now entering its 46th year, the event continues to be a landmark in the college sporting calendar, offering learners the opportunity to compete at an elite level while also participating in a variety of voluntary and leadership roles. This year’s championships will run in partnership with Nottingham Conferences, the event delivery arm of the University of Nottingham.
The championships remain the largest annual FE student sporting event in Europe, with more than 1,300 students taking part in 2025. College teams and individual competitors qualify through regional tournaments hosted throughout the academic year, making qualification itself a significant achievement.
In 2026, learners will compete across 12 sports, including badminton, indoor cricket, 7-a-side football, volleyball, and more.
This year, Wales will be strongly represented across multiple disciplines, showcasing both team excellence and individual athletic achievement. Learners will compete in basketball, netball, table tennis, endurance racing, and men’s, women’s, and pan ability football.
The Welsh colleges securing places at the national finals are:
- Coleg y Cymoedd
- Grŵp Llandrillo Menai
- Cardiff and Vale College
- NPTC Group of Colleges
- St David’s Sixth Form College
- Coleg Sir Gâr / Coleg Ceredigion
- The College Merthyr Tydfil
Among the standout successes, Coleg y Cymoedd emerged as the most successful college in the qualifying rounds, with three teams progressing alongside several individual athletes. Notably, their pan ability football team qualified for the national finals for the first time following a highly competitive final against Grŵp Llandrillo Menai (Dolgellau) in January.
Welsh Qualifiers
- Basketball - Cardiff and Vale College
- Netball - Coleg y Cymoedd
- Women’s Football - Coleg y Cymoedad
- Men’s Football - Grŵp Llandrillo Menai
- Pan Ability Football - Coleg y Cymoedd
- Endurance Race - The College Merthyr Tydfil, Coleg Sir Gâr, NPTC Group of Colleges, St David’s Sixth Form College
- Men’s Table Tennis - Coleg y Cymoedd
ColegauCymru Chief Executive, David Hagendyk, praised the learners’ achievements,
“The AoC Sport National Championships represent an incredible opportunity for learners to demonstrate not only their sporting talent but also their resilience, teamwork, and dedication. We are immensely proud of all the Welsh colleges and learners who have qualified. Their success reflects the strength of sport and active wellbeing across further education in Wales.”
ColegauCymru Project Manager for Sport and Active Wellbeing, Rob Baynham, highlighted the wider impact of the competition,
“These achievements are about far more than medals and trophies. Participation in sport supports learners’ physical health, mental wellbeing, and personal development. To see Welsh colleges competing so strongly at a national level is a testament to the commitment of staff, coaches, and learners alike. We wish everyone the very best of luck at the championships.”
ColegauCymru congratulates all learners, coaches, and colleges involved and looks forward to seeing Wales compete at the AoC Sport National Championships 2026.
Further Information
AoC Sport
AoC Sport National Championships 2026
Rob Baynham, Project Manager - Sport and Active Wellbeing
Robert.Baynham@ColegauCymru.ac.uk
