NVL preview – 4th and 5th October 

Men’s NVL 

As the league whirrs back into full action with a flurry of games, the West Midlanders – who pushed Richmond Docklands hard before losing in four at last year’s play-offs – travel to newly-promoted Sheffield on Sunday, bidding to get off to a flying start. 

Two more teams who went up last season, Manchester Marvels and National Shield finalists Coventry and Warwick Riga, meet at the Dean Trust, Ardwick. 

In Division 1 South, there is just one game with London Aces facing an early test against last season’s Division 2 South and National Shield winners Wessex. 

Two promoted sides, in the shape of Sheffield Springers and Everton Dugongs, go head to head in Division 2 North, while another, Nottingham Rockets, host a Hull Thunder side who are back at the lower level after one season in Division 1. 

Another relegated side, Lincoln Cannons, host Leeds Gorse 2 at Riseholme College. 

Both games in Division 2 Central happen on Sunday, with Loughborough Students, who missed out on promotion in the dying embers of the season, visiting Cambridge, who have come down from Division 1. 

Elsewhere, the battle of the ‘Ns’ sees Northampton entertain Newmarket. 

The three matches in Division 2 South open with former Division 1 side London Baks at home to Spelthorne Lions, and newly-promoted Reading Aces taking on Wiltshire Mavericks. 

A young Richmond Bucks side start on the road as they journey to Kent to play Dartford Crossers. 

Manchester Liberators will get their first taste of the NVL in Division 3 North with their triangular fixture on Merseyside against Liverpool and Manchester Marvels Marauders. 

In Division 3 Central, West Midlands rivals Wombourne and Black Country 2 will meet, while Coventry and Warwick Riga 2, Darkstar Derbyshire 2 and newcomers Birmingham City will do battle in a triangular. 

London Lionhearts make their NVL bow in Division 3 South East as part of a triangular that also involves Rhinos Cambridge 2 and Essex Estonians, while GNG Bedford, Tendring and Onyx London will also take to the court. 

In Division 3 South West, Saturday’s triangular features Weymouth, City of Bristol and Spelthorne Tigers, while Sunday will pit Bristol 2, city rivals Bedminster and Urbond Portsmouth in opposition. 

Women’s NVL 

Relegated Super League sides, the University of Nottingham and Cambridge, will have an early chance to show their credentials in their bids to make an immediate return to the MAAREE Women’s Super League as they go head to head in Division 1 North on Sunday. 

Preceding that, newly-promoted Northampton will test themselves at the higher level for the first time as they welcome Everton Belugas to the East Midlands. 

Two more sides who have gone up will also play in Division 2 South; with Bristol hosting London Inter Orcas as Team South Wales travel across the border and venture eastwards to play Essex Trinity. 

There is just one match in Division 2 North, where two sides who went up at the end of the season – Lincoln (automatically) and Leeds Gorse 2 (via the play-offs) – play. 

Wales meets England as Cardiff Falcons host Black Country in Division 2 West, while Oxford Eagles face Wombourne at Europa School. 

Six of the teams will get underway in Division 2 East with last season’s champions, Cambridge 2, welcoming Onyx London, Dartford Chargers playing Norwich Spikers and Herts meeting Worthing. 

A Sunday triangular sees Everton Seadragons get their campaign up and running as the newcomers to Division 3 North play a triangular also featuring Manchester Marvels Mystics and York Falcons. 

All six Division 3 Central fixtures happen on Sunday, with Cheltenham and Gloucester, Rhinos Cambridge and Ashfield Vipers in one triangular and newcomers Loughborough 2, Leicester Athena Nova and MK City in the other. 

The clash for city bragging rights comes first up for newcomers Plymouth Mayflower and Plymouth in Division 3 South West, and they both also face Bedminster 2 in a triangular. 

Elsewhere, more newbies, Farnborough Phoenix get their first taste against Portsmouth and Weymouth. 

There are no matches in Division 3 South East.

Click here to view the full NVL fixtures.