I hope NIG's growing involvement with rugby sponsorship (the firm sponsors the Scottish Thistles sevens team) will not lead to any embarrassing situations of the type recently recounted by former British Lion skipper and middleman between NIG and the SRU Gavin Hastings.

Announcing the firm's sponsorship of April's Melrose Sevens tournament, Hastings told a tale of the French Barbarians' visit to the borders a few years ago. The handsome Frenchmen romped away with the trophy and were presented with gold medals for their achievement, recalled Hastings.

Strangely, he added, the medals stayed in Melrose long after the Frenchmen's departure, usually draped around young ladies' necks. It seems young Scottish ladies liberated the medals in return for certain favours. I hope no such scandal attends the upcoming tournament.

The 2025 Insurance Times Awards took place on the evening of Wednesday 3rd December in the iconic Great Room of London’s Grosvenor House.

Hosted by comedian and actor Tom Allen, 34 Gold, 23 Silver and 22 Bronze awards were handed out across an amazing 34 categories recognising brilliance and innovation right across the breadth of UK general insurance.
Many congratulations to all the worthy winners and as always, huge thanks to our sponsors for their support and our judges for their expertise.

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