Mayne said BUCS, celebrating its centenary this year, had helped ensure "sport is now ingrained into the fabric and culture of universities across the country".

He admitted, however, that the traditional Wednesday afternoon slot for sport in universities and colleges across the country was "always under threat".

"We are very lucky in the United Kingdom to have such a fantastic set up for university sport," Mayne said.

"We've come a long way in 100 years, and our existence as an organisation, which has been promoting the values of university sport alongside our members, has meant that sport is now ingrained into the fabric and culture of universities across the country.

"As a result almost every university ensures there are no timetabled classes on Wednesday afternoons, so students are free to take part in sport and other extra-curricular activities. 

"However, with increasing academic demands on students and universities wanting to make timetabling classes easier, this sacred space is always under threat."

Mayne said BUCS, which has 170 member institutions and governs over 52 sports, aimed to "create the best university sport experience in the world".

"I think one of the main things we've learned as the organisation has expanded over time is the importance of student leadership, supporting the development of future leaders through sport and ultimately listening to their ideas and respecting the wishes of our member institutions," he added.

"There is undoubtedly more we can do as an organisation to engage students and elected sabbatical officers, but we are really proud of the work our member institutions are doing and the projects we are supporting too.

"Our vision is simple: we want to create the best university sport experience in the world, whether that be through our competitive leagues, student and professional workforce development or inclusive sport opportunities."