Essex Rebels to take on basketball giants in new cup

The Essex Rebels will face off against the giants of British basketball after being invited into a new elite cup tournament.

The inaugural Super League Basketball (SLB) Cup will see the men’s teams compete against professional teams in the division above and two Scottish sides.

On-court action will be covered by top streaming platform DAZN – the home of NFL in the UK and the dedicated global broadcaster of women’s football.

The Rebels are just one of seven teams from the NBL Division 1 competition invited to compete in this prestigious competition – with the University praising the club’s incredible progress.

Fantastic opportunity

The news comes days after crowds were welcomed back into the Essex Sport Arena, with the Rebels entertaining more than 1,200 fans across two exciting games.

Director of Sport at the University of Essex, Dave Parry, said: "This is a huge moment for the Essex Rebels and the University of Essex.

"To be recognised at this level is a testament to the dedication of everyone involved in the club—from our coaching team and players to the staff behind the scenes. Competing in the SLB Cup is a fantastic opportunity, and we’re looking forward to representing Essex on a national stage."

The inclusion of five teams from Basketball England’s NBL Division One, including Essex Rebels, and two teams from basketballscotland’s Scottish Basketball Championship (SBC) will see these top-performing clubs join the nine Super League franchises in the competition.

The competition kicks off in January and will be played in a bracket format, culminating in the final in March.

The tournament draw will take place in the coming weeks, with the First Round set to commence the weekend 10 of January.

Exciting challenge

Ross Norfolk, Essex Rebels Men’s Head Coach, is eager to see how the team fares in the competition: "Being part of the SLB Cup is an exciting challenge for us.

"We know we’ll be up against some of the best teams in British basketball, but that’s exactly the type of competition we want to face.

"The team has been working incredibly hard, and we’re ready to give it our all. It’s a great platform for us to showcase what Essex Rebels basketball is all about."

The Cup will feature single-leg knockout rounds in the First Round and Quarter-finals, with two-legged Semi-finals determining the finalists.

New level of excitement 

Speaking following confirmation of the participation of NBL and SBC teams in the Cup competition this season, SLB Interim Chair Vaughn Millette said: "We are thrilled to welcome seven great teams from both the NBL and SBC to the Cup lineup.

"Their inclusion not only adds a new level of excitement and intrigue to the competition but highlights the depth and talent across British basketball."