The Bay of Plenty Rugby Union will be joining forces with local Bay of Plenty Company Kitchens R Us, replacing their traditional blue and gold colours for pink to show support and generate awareness for Pink Shirt Day on Friday.

Led by the Mental Health Foundation, Pink Shirt Day is a movement which is celebrated annually across the globe.

The movement encourages everyone to work together in order to stop bullying by celebrating diversity and promoting social relationships.

The Bay of Plenty Rugby Union have partnered with Kitchens R Us to highlight Pink Shirt Day's slogan – Speak up, Stand together, Stop bullying.

On Friday the staff of the Bay of Plenty Rugby Union will unite with the staff of Kitchens R Us alongside several Steamers and Volcanix players to help generate awareness for the cause.

Bay of Plenty Rugby Union CEO Mike Rogers says it is important for the Bay of Plenty Rugby Union as an organisation that has significant profile to assist in creating awareness of Pink Shirt Day and play a part in leading the movement to stop bullying and spread the message on how we make our community a better place.

'It is great that we can partner with Kitchens R Us to generate awareness about the issues of bullying in our community and also celebrate diversity,” says Mike.

'We believe rugby and sport generally can show our community why being inclusive is so important. Sport can provide a positive environment where people can be heard, stand together and support each other as a team. These are all important values in educating our community and in particular our young people.”