National Cup and Shield preview (10th and 11th January) - Giants women face test of progress against Vinarius

The Division 1 South side narrowly missed out on promotion and the chance to join their men’s side in England’s top league when they were beaten in the play-offs at the end of last season by Darkstar Derbyshire. 

But the South Londoners have been in scintillating form in the first half of the 2025-26 campaign, racking up six wins from six to top their table, dropping only one set in the process. 

In contrast, Vinarius have found it tough to replicate their MAAREE Women’s Super League form of last season, when they clinched a place at Final 4 with a fourth-place finish. 

However, they took a set off unbeaten leaders Durham before Christmas and can give themselves some early momentum in 2026 with a victory. 

The winners of that tie will be rewarded with a quarter-final match-up with either the aforementioned Palatinates – five wins from five so far in Super League – or Division 1 South hosts Bedminster. 

Last season's double winners Malory Eagles UEL, currently second in Super League, have been handed a home draw against Division 1 South bottom club Team South Wales. 

They will stay in the capital if, as expected, they go through to take on the victors of the Onyx (London League) versus Richmond (Division 1 South) tie. 

Another top-flight London side, Team SideOut Polonia, will stay in the capital to play 2023 National Shield winners and non-NVL team London Bears.  

Should last year’s finalists progress, their reward would be to visit the winners of Essex Rebels (third in Super League) and Division 1 North Stockport in the last eight. 

The other non-NVL side still left in the draw, London League club Waterloo Thunder, have been drawn at home to Division 1 North’s Northampton, with the winners going to Everton Belugas, of Division 1 North, or Super League Darkstar Derbyshire, who meet in Liverpool. 

In the Men’s National Cup draw, both last season’s finalists will be tipped to make progress against sides below them in the pyramid. 

Reigning champions Essex Rebels will entertain Division 1 South’s London Aces, while Malory Eagles UEL, who lost a memorable five-setter to the Colchester-based side at last season’s Cup Finals, host London League side London Lionhearts. 

Should the two favourites progress they would respectively play the winners of the ties between Coventry and Warwick Riga and Black Country (both Division 1 North) and Newcastle Staffs and IBB Polonia London, the latter seeing the top teams in Division 1 North and Division 1 South going head to head. 

Two sides who played each other in Division 1 last season will meet when Super League’s bottom club Leeds Gorse make the trip to Division 1 South high-flyers Essex Blaze. 

Both teams go into that tie knowing that if they are successful, they will have a home tie against either Super League Richmond Docklands or London League London Giants 2. 

London Giants’ first team, who are the current DYNAMIK Men’s Super League champions, make the trip across the capital to face London League Onyx, while Bristol take on Wessex in an all-Division 1 South clash for the right to host the winners of that match. 

The National Shield – for teams in Divisions 2, 3 and not in the NVL or London League – also promises some exciting match-ups to look forward to. 

In the women’s section, Oxford Eagles, unbeaten and going well in Division 2 West, visit Division 2 East mid-table side Dartford Chargers in the Last 16. 

The successful side in that tie will meet either another Division 2 West side Reading Aces – who lost their first league match to the Eagles in the last round of fixtures before Christmas – or Division 2 South East high-flyers Essex Ravens, who have a 100 per cent record so far. 

Division 2 East leaders Cambridge 2 will be eager to progress but face a University of Bristol side who have reached February’s Student Cup Finals. 

Providing the Last 8 opposition for the victorious side will be a Division 2 North side of some description as Sheffield host Lincoln Cannons. 

Division 2 East outfit Wombourne will journey north to face Division 3 North team Hull Thunder and, if they conquer, they will be on the road again against another Division 3 side in either Rhinos Volleyball (Central) or Farnborough Phoenix (South West). 

There are two North West v Midlands ties to complete the Last 16 and quarter-final fixtures as Manchester Marvels Mystics (eight from eight in Division 3 North) face Tamworth Spartans (Division 2 West) for the right to play Coventry and Warwick Riga (Division 2 West) or Everton Narwhals (Division 2 North). 

No less than five non-NVL sides are hoping to make their mark in the Men’s National Shield after progressing well through the early rounds. 

At least one of them is guaranteed to progress to the quarter-finals as Deep Dish Crystal Palace meet Watford. 

They could then face another side not in the NVL should Brazukas get the better of Division 3 South East’s Newmarket 2. 

Legends Volleyball Oldham have made serene progress so far and now find Division 2 Central’s Nottingham Rockets standing in their way. 

Opposing the victors in the quarter-finals will be either Leeds Gorse 2 or Everton Dugongs, who are separated by just one point and one place in Division 2 North. 

The Army (pictured above) performed well in this competition last year and are hoping for another good run as they prepare for the trip to Division 2 South’s Spelthorne Lions. 

Waiting for one of them in the next round will be either of Division 3 North rivals Liverpool or Manchester Moss Side Jaguars. 

An East Midlands clash pairs together Division 2 North’s top two as second-placed Lincoln Cannons welcome leaders Darkstar Derbyshire. 

The winners will host opponents from further south in the quarters, with Division 2 Central’s Oxford Bulls and Division 3 South West’s unbeaten leaders Weymouth going head to head. 

Get more on the National Cup and Shield and check out the results once matches are completed by clicking here.