Archers set for expanded BCB Trophy in 2026/27

Cardiff Met Archers will compete in the expanded British Championship Basketball Trophy for the 2026/27 season, joining a 20-team competition that brings together clubs from across the British basketball pyramid.

The second season of the British Championship Basketball Trophy will begin in early September, with Cardiff Met Archers named among five guest clubs from England and Wales invited to take part. They will be joined by Portsmouth Force, Gloucester City Kings, Plymouth Raiders and Oaklands Wolves, alongside Signs Express Fury from the Scottish League and the 14 BCB league clubs, including reigning champions City of Birmingham Rockets.

It marks an exciting opportunity for the Archers to test themselves in a wider national competition, with the Trophy set to be the biggest event in BCB’s short history.

Archers Head Coach - Stefan Rosier “We’re looking forward to competing in the BCB Trophy. It will provide a fantastic challenge for our players and a great opportunity for a Welsh club to compete at a high level. The competition is another important step in the development of our basketball programme and an exciting moment for Cardiff Met Archers and Welsh basketball.”

The teams will be split into four groups of five, with the top two from each group progressing to the quarter-finals in October. The semi-finals are scheduled for November, before the final takes place in January at a venue still to be confirmed.

BCB Chairman Russell Bell said the expansion reflected the progress made by the competition over the past year.

“Just as we pause for breath at the end of a very successful inaugural BCB season, we’re delighted to launch another BCB Trophy campaign to kick off our plans for 2026/27,” he said.

“As well as welcoming back our friends at Signs Express Fury, we’re excited to be joined by five clubs from Wales and England, taking us to a total of 20 top-level clubs competing in what will be the biggest Trophy event in the competition’s short history.

“This is a great endorsement of the status of British Championship Basketball in the UK basketball hierarchy and the progress made over the past 12 months. We’re very much looking forward to further developments as we approach the new season.”

The announcement places Cardiff Met Archers alongside a strong field. Oaklands Wolves won the NBL Division 2 playoff final last season after an undefeated league campaign, while Gloucester City Kings also topped their Division 2 pool. Signs Express Fury arrive from Scotland following a treble-winning season, having gone unbeaten in the SBC regular season before adding the Cup and playoff titles.

For Cardiff Met, inclusion in the competition provides another platform for the Archers to represent the University on a national stage and continue strengthening the profile of basketball within the wider Cardiff Met Sport performance environment.

The full group-stage draw and fixture details are expected to be confirmed ahead of the competition’s September start.