MIT and Blues Rugby renew sponsorship agreement
In 2020, Blues players Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Karl Tu’inukuafe and Kurt Eklund visited Otahuhu College to talk with students about the importance of continuing in education as part of the team’s partnership with MIT.
Manukau Institute of Technology and Blues Rugby are again teaming up to use sport to unlock the potential of our community through creating better futures through education.
“MIT is proud of what the team has achieved during the partnership both on and off the field,” says MIT Chief Executive Gus Gilmore.
“We look forward to how this relationship develops over the next two years and connecting more learners with benefits of vocational training,” he says.
“MIT has been a very valuable partner for us, providing staff training, education for our development players and a strong connection point with our incredibly passionate south Auckland fan base,” says Blues Rugby CEO Andrew Hore. “We look forward to building on the success of the last few years and collaborating further through joint community initiatives.”
The institute and the franchise signed the original sponsorship deal in February 2019.
Highlights include the Blues winning their first title in eighteen years when the team lifted the inaugural Super Rugby Trans-Tasman trophy. MIT turning its on-field logo blue for the final to show our support for the franchise, along with the Sky Tower and Auckland Harbour Bridge.
The future of Māori and Pasifika communities in Tāmaki Makaurau is close to the heart of both organizations. In 2019, players, coaching and support staff were welcomed to Ngā Kete Wānanga Marae at MIT Ōtara.
This year, squad members supported Samoan, Tongan and Māori Language Weeks by recording videos promoting the institute’s language courses.
One of the additional benefits of the relationship is collaborating with fellow partners with IVECO’s donation of two diesel engines and a gearbox gratefully received by Automotive School.
Through the agreement scholarships are offered to players who study with MIT and students can gain work experiences with the Blues to get a ‘behind the scenes’ view of a professional international sports team.
‘It is great to be teaming up with MIT again,” says Blues Head of Performance Development, Andrew Hewetson. “MIT scholarships enable us to help provide meaningful education and vocational opportunities to players in our pathway and development programmes.”
The Blues kicking off their Super Rugby Pacific season in 2022.
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