Melbourne-based sports insurer Sportscover has joined forces with Lloyd’s insurer Alleghany Underwriting to bring their personal accident products to the Lloyd’s market.

In a move that Sportscover MD Peter Nash describes as “market-driven”, the new move will give the Australian operation some new targets to aim for.

“We’re a niche insurer, so it’s difficult to get the sort of facilities we need in the Australian market,” Mr Nash said.

His son Chris, who is Sportscover’s senior underwriter in London, told the Lloyd’s magazine The Market that Sportscover and Alleghany will adopt a similar approach in Britain as had been successful in Australia. “We want to set up a comprehensive broker network in the UK and hope to have 40 or so signed up by the end of the year.”

Sportscover has four offices in Australia, one in New Zealand, one in London and is planning an expansion into the US.