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7 September 2026  3 min read

National Cup once again tips off the new NBL season

Cleveland Steelers got the ball rolling on Tuesday night with a hard-fought 78-75 victory over East Durham Lions, lifting the curtain on the opening round of the competition.

Three more ties take place on Saturday 12 September, headlined by 2025/26 surprise package Yorkshire Dragons II, who made it to the last-16 a year ago. They begin their campaign this time round with a trip to Spen Valley Vipers.

Fifteen further contests are scheduled for Sunday, making up the bulk of the action.

Last season's D1M Pool A outfit Teesside Lions are away to Newcastle College Eagles, with fellow relegated side Oxford Hoops also beginning life outside the top flight with a visit to Surrey Rams.

There's an all-Manchester derby between the Spartans and Titans, and London Sharks host former D1 side Westminster Warriors.

A single Round Two game is also taking place this weekend, with 2025/26 D2M playoff winners Oaklands Wolves going up against Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge.

Oaklands Wolves claimed last season's D2M playoff title and will take up a spot in D1M for 2026/27

Men's National Cup fixtures

Destination Manchester

The week's ties mark the start of the journey for all the league's sides as they try to plot their way to success in this season's Cup competitions.

The Finals are set for 23 and 24 January 2027 at Manchester's National Basketball Performance Centre, returning to the North West after last season's stop in Worcester.

Solent Kestrels are due to get their their NBL National Cup defence underway in Round Two at the end of September, hitting the road for a local derby with Portsmouth Force.

Holders Manchester Mystics are the only side with a bye in Round One of the WNBL National Cup, which gets underway on 4 October 2026.

That means their journey will get started in early November against either City of Birmingham Rockets or University of Nottingham Wildcats.

Action elsewhere

The NBL National Cup forms part of a total of 74 fixtures to be played across the week, officially opening the new season.

There are also contests in the U16 and U18 Sure Shot National Cup for both the girls and the boys, plus a host of league games across the U16 and U14 Boys' competitions.

Check all the fixtures here

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