Cup and Shield last 16 draw - Essex Rebels to host Durham Palatinates

Alex Porter’s side, unbeaten in their opening two league matches and who have looked mighty impressive, will lock horns with last season’s league and cup double winners in a mouth-watering clash to be staged in Colchester. 

There are two other all-Super League match-ups, with Newcastle Knights welcoming Malory Eagles UEL to the North East and London Giants entertaining Essex Blaze. 

The two ties not involving top-flight teams see Lincoln Cannons host Exeter Storm and Tamworth Spartans play Cambridge ARU, meaning at least two NVL teams will make it through to the last eight. 

In the Women’s National Cup, all the MAAREE Women’s Super League sides have avoided one another in the draw. 

Defending champions Team SideOut Polonia will start their defence at home to NVL Division 1 newcomers Essex Trinity, while current league leaders Malory Eagles UEL will host another team just promoted to NVL Division 1 in Newcastle Knights. 

Last year’s National Shield winners, London Bears, will travel to Coventry and Warwick Riga, while the team they beat to win that prize, Leicester Athena Phoenix, travel to Super League side Essex Rebels. 

2023-24 runners-up, Durham Palatinates, face a tricky assignment as they visit NVL Division 1 newbies London Giants and University of Bristol have pulled a home tie against Super League Cambridge ARU. 

In the Men’s Shield, Division 2 North leaders Manchester Marvels host Darkstar Derbyshire from the same division and non-NVL Telford visit Nottingham Rockets, both in the North-Central Zone. 

Another non-NVL side, The Army, visit Reading Aces and Northampton make the trip south to take on Wessex in South Zone ties. 

The Women’s Shield North-Central Zone sees unbeaten NVL Division 3 Central leaders Lincoln Cannons travel to Darkstar Derbyshire 2 from the same division as Loughborough Students host Manchester Marvels Mayhem. 

In the South Zone, MK City and Bedminster go head to head, while Welsh side Cardiff Falcons welcome Northampton. 

You can check out the full draws by clicking here. 

The draw was made on Monday afternoon (4th November) at SportPark in Loughborough. 

Ties in both competitions will be played on Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th January 2025.