THE VNSL Rise Again Festival is back this weekend, with the preseason event taking place in Manchester. First run in 2020, it returns this weekend and will see all of the VNSL sides competing in the preseason tournament.

Fans will be able to see the likes Natalie Haythornthwaite back on home soil for the first time in more than two years and former Diamonds coach Lisa Alexander in her new role with London Pulse. This year’s edition of the Festival sees the addition of London’s Knights Men’s into the competition.

Teams have been split into four groups of three teams. They are as follows:

The event’s match schedule has also been released. It is as follows (all times UK time):

Saturday 11th December

9.05am – Match 1: Loughborough Lightning vs Knights Men
9.55am – Match 2: Severn Stars vs London Pulse
10.45am – Match 3: Manchester Thunder vs Celtic Dragons
11.35am – Match 4: Strathclyde Sirens vs Team Bath
12.25pm – Match 5: Leeds Rhinos vs Loughborough Lightning
1.15pm – Match 6: London Pulse vs Saracens Mavericks

2pm – Break

2.30pm – Match 7: Wasps vs Manchester Thunder
3.20pm – Match 8: Team Bath vs Surrey Storm
4.10pm – Match 9: Knights Men vs Leeds Rhinos
5pm – Match 10: Saracens Mavericks vs Severn Stars
5.50pm – Match 11: Celtic Dragons vs Wasps
6.40pm – Match 12: Surrey Storm vs Strathclyde Sirens

Sunday 12th December

9.05am – 3rd Place Group A vs 3rd Place Group B
9.55am – 3rd Place Group A vs 3rd Place Group B
10.45am – Semi-Final 3
11.35am – Semi-Final 4
12.25pm – Semi-Final 5
1.15pm – Semi-Final 6

2pm – Break

2.30pm – 11th/12th Place Playoff
3.20pm – 9th/10th Place Playoff
4.10pm – 7th/8th Place Playoff
5pm – 5th/6th Place Playoff
5.50pm – 3rd/4th Place Playoff
6.40pm – FINAL

Fans are allowed to attend the event, but those who cannot attend can watch the event with a Livestream pass. The live pass also allows people to watch the replays for up to two weeks after the event has concluded.