The hairy beards of the Air New Zealand Cup have caught the eye of a leading New Zealand building company. Signature Homes have got behind the efforts of New Zealand's leading rugby players in the nationwide Beards for Blood campaign.

With a cash donation to the Leukaemia and Blood Foundation and its staff queuing up to donate blood, Signature Homes are leading the nation in supporting Beards for Blood as well as constructing homes.

"One of our project managers, James King, plays for North Harbour and is part of the campaign," says Gavin Hunt, the Executive Director of Signature Homes.

"We've also got people within our company who are affected by Leukaemia or who have needed a blood transfusion, so supporting Beards for Blood is an absolute no-brainer."

Anneta Hunt, also a Director of Signature Homes, adds "there's also the link with why we're builders. It's about looking after family and providing for the future."

Provincial rugby stars up and down the country have agreed to let the whiskers grow until the end of the season to raise awareness for the New Zealand Blood Service and raise much-needed funds for the Leukaemia and Blood Foundation's Shave for a Cure initiative.

The campaign was inspired by the giant ginger beard sported by North Harbour fullback Jack McPhee and has quickly spread throughout the country as one by one the nation's premier provincial teams have jumped on board.

Impressively, both the Northland Taniwha and Manawatu Turbos decided that if they were going to participate, it would be as an entire team - including coaches and management - and that has led to plenty of manscaping and few complaints from the wives and girlfriends! Selected players from North Harbour, Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Taranaki, Wellington, Canterbury and Otago have also committed to the cause.

"We are absolutely stoked that so many players are getting behind this important community event and we trust that many in the rugby community come forward and become regular donors," says Paul Hayes, Marketing Manager of the New Zealand Blood Service.

Dates and venues for the big shave up will be confirmed in the coming week.

In the meantime fans can support their team by visiting www.shaveforacure.co.nz and clicking on the Beards for Blood link. You can also see regular updates on all the progress during Sky Sport's comprehensive rugby coverage.

To find out how to donate blood fans can simply text "Blood" to 515.