PIC Insurance Brokers have furthered their support of rugby pathways in the Auckland region with a Blues partnership that includes support across the Blues High Performance development program including Blues U20’s, U18’s & U17 teams.

The partnership strengthens the Blues development system and comes off an historic memorandum of understanding (MOU) which was signed in 2021 with their three provincial unions (Auckland, North Harbour and Northland) to overhaul the region's pathway.

The MOU’s key outcome is to develop a clear and continuous pathway for talent to be identified, developed and retained within the Blues region comprising players, coaches and support staff.

The PIC Insurance Brokers partnership encompasses Naming rights to the Blues Michael Garner Scholarship. The $10,000 scholarship will be awarded to one up and coming player per year with the money to go towards education and living costs and ensuring the Blues can retain the best young talent in the region.

“The Blues, along with our three Provincial Unions, are focused on developing and retaining the best talent in the Blues region. We’re ecstatic that PIC Insurance Brokers have opted to support us in this quest and partner with the Blues development pathway,” says Blues CEO Andrew Hore.

“PIC Insurance Brokers are incredible supporters of Rugby Union in the region already and we look forward to extending their involvement from grassroots through Auckland and the Blues.”

PIC Insurance Brokers will feature on the back of the jerseys of the Blues U20s team who will compete in the Super Rugby Aotearoa Under-20 tournament in Taupo in May and will also have Presenting Partner rights to the Blues Development Player of the Year which is awarded at the club’s end of season dinner.

Paul Ryan, Chief Operating Officer, at PIC Insurance Brokers says that the opportunity with The Blues captures who PIC is and what they want to continue to offer in the development of rugby.

“We’re a New Zealand owned, New Zealand operated business that’s been supporting rugby through grassroots and NPC partnerships since Mike Garner founded PIC more than 30 years ago.

“As a family business, the opportunity to support young players to focus on honing their craft during a critical part of their journey is awesome. Naming this scholarship is a way of honouring Mike’s legacy of supporting rugby development. We’re excited to welcome the first recipient of the scholarship into our community and look forward to contributing to their success,” says Ryan.