UKTC XI Returns to January with a New Home in Manchester

A new venue, a winter return, and the next chapter for one of the UK’s great team tournaments.

UK Team Challenge - The Crown Jewels of British Blood Bowl, which stands out on the European calendar as a tournament not to be missed will take place on Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 January 2027, with a new home at Manchester Academy 1 and BB_Jock taking over as Tournament Organiser. 

Tickets for the 256-coach event will go on sale on Sunday 19 April 2026 at 10am BST.

After UKTC X at Leeds University last summer, the tournament will take a short pause in 2026 before returning to its traditional place in the calendar. When it does, it will do so with a new setting, a winter slot, and the same competitive edge and community spirit that made UKTC one of the standout events in British Blood Bowl.

UKTC X in Leeds Students' Union with fifty-six teams from the four corners of the UK

UKTC was created by Team England coach and community stalwart Pipey, with the first edition held in York in January 2015. Over the years it became one of those tournaments coaches talked about in advance, planned trips around, and made sure they experienced at least once.

After nine editions, Pipey stepped back, with Haychdee and Punchymcragefists (JJ) of Tactics and Theatrics taking on the tournament for its tenth outing. With more than 220 coaches in attendance, they delivered a brilliant weekend and showed that UKTC still had the pull, prestige and atmosphere that have always set it apart.

Now the tournament moves into its next chapter: a new date, a new venue and a new TO, with a clear commitment to protecting what made UKTC special in the first place.

Back where it belongs: January

For many coaches, UKTC always felt like part of the rhythm of a new Blood Bowl year. It had the feel of an early statement event: a major team tournament, a strong field, and the chance to test yourself against some of the best around.

Moving back to January is a deliberate step in that direction.

A winter slot works better for the travelling tournament scene, especially for international coaches. It avoids the peak summer holiday period, helps keep travel more manageable, and gives UKTC the chance to re-establish itself as one of the first big weekends of the year.

The aim is simple: put UKTC back in a slot that suits the tournament, suits the wider scene, and helps attract a deep, competitive field from across the UK and Europe.

A new home in Manchester

UKTC is moving across the Pennines to Manchester Academy 1, part of Manchester University Students’ Union.

The main reason is simple: connectivity.

With a major international airport, strong rail links and easy road access, Manchester is ideally placed to welcome travelling coaches from all over the UK and beyond. For a tournament with UKTC’s reputation, that matters.

Just as importantly, the venue fits the event. Manchester Academy 1 gives UKTC the scale and layout needed for a major team tournament, with all coaches together in one room, a strong social atmosphere, table service, bar access and plenty of room for the weekend to feel like the occasion it should.

Two Scottish Squads; Seagulls (L) and Trailblazers (R) on the top table going into Round three at the end of the first day with the Gulls winning out 3pts vs 1pts

UKTC has always been about more than just the games. It is the buzz in the hall, the reunion of old friends, the arrival of teams from all over the country and the rest of Europe, and the sense that for one weekend the Blood Bowl community turns up in force. Manchester gives that next chapter a fitting stage.

BB_Jock, confirmed as the new TO for UKTC XI

The eleventh edition of UKTC will be led by BB_Jock, who has built significant experience running The Home Nations, which has grown from 120 coaches in its first year to an expected 344 this summer.

With support from Tactics and Theatrics, the tournament moves forward with experienced hands behind it and a clear intention to build on the tournament’s heritage rather than change for the sake of it.

Speaking about the handover, Haychdee said:

“Taking on UKTC as my first major tournament was definitely a challenge, but it was also a brilliant experience. Once the dice started rolling and the room filled up, you could feel exactly why UKTC means so much to so many coaches.

We were proud to play our part in carrying it forward, and I’m really pleased to see it heading into its next chapter with Jock at the front. With the work he’s already done on the Home Nations, and with the support around him, I’m confident UKTC XI will be a cracking weekend and a proper occasion.”

Jock said:

“Pipey built UKTC into one of the few tournaments that is firmly on the bucket list for coaches from across Europe. Haychdee and JJ then picked up the reins and delivered a superb weekend.

My focus is twofold. First, I want to help bring international coaches back in big numbers by putting the tournament in a stronger calendar slot and in a city with excellent travel links. That should help make the field as deep and competitive as ever.

Second, I want to protect and build on UKTC’s heritage for the long term. This is not a tournament that needs wholesale change. The aim is to respect its roots while giving it the platform to thrive.

I’ve spoken at length with both Pipey and Haychdee to make sure the essence of what makes UKTC special is preserved. It’s a privilege to be trusted with one of the UK’s most prestigious tournaments, and I’m excited to help deliver another brilliant weekend.”

Ruleset to follow

The ruleset for UKTC XI will be submitted for NAF approval, ensuring the event is fully recognised and results recorded. More detail on the ruleset will follow in a separate post, with the aim of striking the right balance between the character of previous UKTC editions and the realities of the current Blood Bowl season.

Round 4 kicks off Day 2 with Tactics and Theatrics (back) squaring off against Pitch Invaders ending in a diplomatic draw!

Ticket release date

Tickets for UKTC XI will go on sale on Sunday 19 April 2026 at 10am BST.

If this summer’s Home Nations is any guide, coaches will want to be ready. Under Jock’s leadership, Home Nations sold out in just nine minutes!

With UKTC’s prestige already firmly established and a new chapter now taking shape in Manchester, demand is expected to be high and places are unlikely to hang around for long. More details on ticketing, including how to secure places for your team, will be shared soon.

UKTC XI marks an exciting new chapter for The Crown Jewels of British Blood Bowl: a return to January, a move to Manchester, and a clear commitment to keeping the spirit of UKTC alive for years to come.

Get the date in the diary. Rally the squad. We’ll see you in Manchester.