A different kind of Ball technology for Dyson

Dyson has been confirmed as Bath Rugby?s new Title Partner for the next two seasons. This partnership is the first of its kind for Dyson, with the organisation deciding that now is the right time to support a world-class local team with international ambitions.

James Dyson, Inventor and Founder of the eponymous company, said: ‘‘Dyson started out in a coach house in Bath, with just two graduates and I developing the first cyclonic vacuum cleaner. When I wasn’t busy toiling with prototypes, I was off to see Bath Rugby play just up the road. 21 years later, I’m surrounded by over 2,000 people at Dyson who, with an average age of 26, are keen on playing sport. Bath remains our local club – many Dyson people live there and keenly support the team.

Bruce Craig and his family, armed with his infectious enthusiasm and tactical skill, are transforming the Club. It has been a joy and inspiration to witness Bath Rugby’s rapid regeneration and see the Club’s ambitious expansion plans first-hand. Just as Rome, Verona and Pula have Roman coliseums at the heart of the city, Bruce Craig's proposed new stadium is an architecturally sympathetic Coliseum for Roman Bath, designed by Wilkinson Eyre. We are backing a world class team that shares Dyson’s faith in nurturing youth and have fighting spirit in abundance.”

Bath Rugby’s Owner and Chairman, Bruce Craig, said: “Both Bath Rugby and Dyson share a culture of high performance and pursuit of excellence. We both relentlessly seek improvement in everything we do and we both relish taking on tough competition. For us, this new partnership is a positive sign of the progress the Club has made recently and is a huge encouragement as we strive to achieve our ambition to become the best Club in Europe.

We are excited about what Dyson can bring to the Club. They are a forward-thinking, innovative organisation and I’m sure they will help challenge how we do things, both on and off the field. We will certainly be taking inspiration from their history of tenacity and taking on the big boys, as we face some of the finest sides in England and Europe next season.”

Perseverance, tenacity, and a faith in youth are mutual characteristics for both Dyson and Bath Rugby.

21 years ago, after creating over five thousand prototypes, James Dyson launched the world’s first cyclonic vacuum cleaner. It was the result of many years of stubborn hard graft, frequent swearing and dogged perseverance. This ethos is still held Dyson engineers today, constantly refining and improving until the point the technology reaches perfection. On the rugby field unrelenting perseverance is a crucial element of success. Copious hours spent on fitness, practising kicking, hundreds of line-out drills and thousands of attack and defence sessions show that relentless pursuit of improvement are key ingredients to sporting success. 

Both companies also agree on the importance of investing in young talent. A third of all Dyson hires were graduates last year, while Bath Rugby is a hotbed of young English talent. The Club has invested in an Academy structure and has created an environment where young players, like Ollie Devoto, George Ford, Anthony Watson and Kyle Eastmond, can excel and a place where smart risk taking is encouraged. 

Both Dyson and Bath Rugby enjoy doing things a little differently and this will be clear to see in the new player shirts. Not content with merely putting a logo on a jersey, Dyson have created a truly unique collection of shirts that match different Dyson technologies with player positions. Just as each Dyson product has a unique function and benefit, the same applies to players on the field of play.  The front row will wear Dyson digital slim shirts; the second row will be Dyson Animal; back row will be Dyson on a ball; half-backs and fullbacks will wear Dyson hot + cool; whilst the speedsters in the centre and on the wings will wear Dyson 110,000rpm – after Dyson’s small, fast digital motor.

Following the announcement of this new partnership, Dyson decided to put some of the Bath Rugby players to the test. Watch what happened below!