Kingston students will not be able to play American Football next year unless the University sets up its own team.

Currently Kingston students can play for the Surrey Stingers, a multi institution team funded by Surrey University. However from next year only single institution teams will be able to compete, meaning Kingston players will not be able to play for the Stingers.

Andy Fuller, British American Football Association Director, said: "We would welcome a team from Kingston in the competition and would happily work with all parties involved in sport at Kingston to try and maximise the potential of creating a viable programme."

The British University American Football League (BUAFL) is changing its rules to bring itself in line with British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCs).

BUAFL rules state that - " From the start of the 2010/11 season ALL member teams will be representative of one institution and draw only athletes from that institution."

At the moment Kingston students travel 20 miles to Guildford to appear for the Stingers, but the team is not allowed to compete for the end of season championship due to its multi institution status.

André Labadie, a 2nd year surveying student who plays for the Stingers said: "We had 150 signatures during Freshers' week, but people were put off when we told them it is in Guildford, if it was in Tolworth they would be able to play."

The twenty Kingston students on the team each pay about £10 a week in travelling costs, along with almost £200 in yearly subs.

Rhiannon Hiscocks, VP Activities for the KU Students' Union, said: "A few years ago Surrey contacted us and said they were happy to facilitate a team. Some sports clubs can be run with relatively small costs but American Football is very expensive. Hopefully when we discuss the budget in January we will be able to work in something for the American Football team."