The inclusion of these sports brings the BUCS offering to over 50.

"At this time, it is important for us to continue to support students with staying active with a view to getting back to playing sport," said BUCS director of delivery Jenny Morris.

"These new sports are valuable in creating more opportunities for students to get involved, moving and engaged with university sport when we return to play."

Wheelchair basketball has now become the first fully inclusive team sport on the competition programme. 

"This is a huge step not only for wheelchair basketball, but also underpins some of the great work the sector is doing to widen access to higher education," said British Wheelchair Basketball participation director Jo Richards.

"As a truly inclusive team sport, we feel we can really bring something different to the BUCS portfolio with our 'Reverse Inclusion' approach, which allows all ages, genders, abilities and disabilities to compete on a level playing field.

"Our partner institutions and student athletes have worked extremely hard to raise awareness and embed wheelchair basketball into their sport programmes and it’s great to see their efforts rewarded with formal inclusion into the programme. 

"It’s an exciting time for wheelchair basketball and we have some great opportunities on the horizon for universities and community clubs to build their relationships and we can’t wait to see how the programme develops."

With softball and baseball returning to the Olympic schedule next year in Tokyo, both sports are expected to grow in popularity.

There are already existing softball and baseball societies at a number of British institutions. 

"I am delighted with the announcement from BUCS confirming the inclusion of baseball and softball into the BUCS competitions programme from autumn 2020," said BaseballSoftballUK head of development Chris Rawlings.

"It provides us with a great opportunity to further strengthen the presence and profile of baseball and softball in the university sports sector in the coming years."

The addition of three sports is a result of the year long process of BUCS's sport review stage two. 

This stage saw extensive consultation between BUCS, member institutions, National Governing Bodies and the sport review implementation group.

Stage three is currently postponed due to the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic.