Spokesman Glen Sinclair said the club also had declined to nominate any of its rowers for a Blue.
The dispute between the Otago University Students Association, which confers the Blues and has lifted the profile of the annual awards function, and one of the university's biggest sporting clubs has arisen because of a subtle name change.
First presented in 1908, the sports awards were known as the University of Otago Blues until being renamed the OUSA Blues for last year's 100th anniversary.
New Zealand universities all present Blues to their leading sports people, but only at Otago University are Blues named after its students association.
"For 99 years, it was the University of Otago Blues. Last year, without any warning, it got changed to the OUSA Blues," Mr Sinclair said.
"Our committee totally disagrees with the name change."
Mr Sinclair, an OUSA life member who used to be on the Blues committee when he was the OUSA's club development officer, said the rowing club valued the history of the university and of the Blues.
"First and foremost, people come to Otago because it's a good university. Getting involved with a students' association comes after that.
"The prestige is being awarded a University of Otago Blue, not being awarded an OUSA Blue."
An OUSA spokeswoman directed the Otago Daily Times to president Edwin Darlow on Wednesday.
Mr Darlow did not return calls on Wednesday or yesterday.
The Blues will be presented at an awards dinner at the Otago Museum atrium tomorrow night.
The guest speaker is author and former Mastermind winner Hamish McDouall.
Blues
> Recognise sporting excellence.
> Began at Oxford (dark blue) and Cambridge (light blue) universities.
> University of Otago Blues first presented in 1908.
> Prominent Otago Blues recipients include All Blacks Chris Laidlaw, David Kirk, John Timu, Anton Oliver; Olympic medallist runners Jack Lovelock, Lorraine Moller; Silver Ferns Lesley Nicol, Belinda Colling, Anna Scarlett; Olympic swimmers David Gerrard, Liz van Welie.
