The countdown to the 2025 season came a step closer this week after the folk at Inside Britball got the inside scoop on the divisional alignments for the under 19’s in Division One and Division Two.

The South East Legion will compete, once again, in Division Two in the Southern Conference. With another season of maturity and growing, very few players ageing out and the squad growing this off-season, we’re hoping to improve on our 2-6 record in 2024. But to do that, we will have to face some familiar opponents and some new faces and, potentially, face a whole brand new division if we make the playoffs.

Before the season starts in the Spring, the British American Football Association (BAFA) will conduct so-called “health-checks” on all clubs. Health-checks involve ensuring each team has a suitable and sustainable minimum number of players and also coaches. So, for now, all of the teams announced are subject to confirmation. We are certainly confident of passing our own “health-checks” and we hope for everyone’s sake that the other clubs are also able to do the same.

So, assuming everyone is able to compete, we’re excited to see that we’ll be facing some familiar teams in the Wembley Stallions, Oxford Saints, Berkshire Renegades, Poole Dolphins and South Wales Warriors in 2025. But we’re also pleased to see two new opponents announced with the Bristol Aztecs and Somerset Wyverns both added to Division Two for the new year.

Somerset were initially placed in Division One in 2024 but had to withdraw and forfeit their games last year. Hopefully they’re able to get good numbers together for the year ahead. Bristol are a new entrant at under 19 level but definitely a well-known organisation in BritBall more generally.

The other noticeable change is that we won’t be playing Swindon this year. The Division Two Champions of 2024 have moved to Division One and will be playing 9 versus 9 in the South West division alongside, amongst others, the 2024 Champion Rushmoor Knights.

The other big news for 2025 is the addition of a new Northern Division. In Division Two last year, the only teams competing were in the south but with the addition of a new four team Northern group. We’re pleased to see Darlington, Scunthorpe, the Yorkshire Academy and the North-East Academy all field teams for 2025.

We can’t wait for the season to start! If you are new to American Football and would like to join us to compete in the 2025 season, it’s not too late to join. Contact us now to join us for training in January and get up-to-speed in time for the new season.