Insurance provider NIG will continue its support & development of Scottish sevens rugby by sponsoring the Scottish Thistles Sevens Development Team for the third year in a row.

The NIG Scottish Thistles will compete in the Melrose Sevens on Saturday April 12 and in the Amsterdam Sevens over the weekend of May 17 and 18 under the management of former Scotland scrum half, Roy Laidlaw.

Last season the NIG Scottish Thistles enjoyed success by reaching the finals of the Melrose and Selkirk Sevens and in 2001, also secured a final slot at the Amsterdam Sevens.

Roy Laidlaw, Scotland Sevens Manager, said: ‘We are delighted that NIG has decided to continue its sponsorship and we appreciate the vital role that the company plays in supporting and developing young talent in the game through the NIG Scottish Thistles.’

Playing in the NIG Scottish Thistles allows up-and-coming talent a platform to develop and showcase their skills and abilities. This year many of them will be focusing on securing a spot in the Scotland side for the upcoming IRB World Sevens Series.

‘Several players came through the ranks of the NIG Scottish Thistles to play in the Commonwealth Games at Manchester 2002 which is testament to the success of NIG’s support for our Development Team’, continued Laidlaw. ‘We look forward to nurturing our young Thistles players with a view to moving up the representative ladder.’

NIG will capitalise on the sponsorship by using the Sevens events to entertain their brokers and build client relationships whilst also raising the profile of the NIG brand through the eye-catching purple and orange rugby shirts of the Thistles.

Charles Earle, Managing Director of NIG’s Commercial Division, said: ‘The commitment and enthusiasm that the NIG Scottish Thistles continue to display in an effort to improve themselves on the rugby pitch is inspirational. NIG is therefore proud to reward the team’s effort by continuing our association with such a proud and determined side.’

NIG plans to invest in the sponsorship to continue to increase awareness of the company not only in Scotland, but in the rest of the UK in a bid to maintain and build on its status as General Insurer of the Year for 2002 and as a leading insurer of small to medium sized businesses and private customers throughout the UK.

For more details contact:

Helen Heady, Heady PR (for NIG)
(t) +44 20 8743 7797
(e) headypr@aol.com