Sir James Dyson, the English inventor and business magnate, has made a major investment in Bath that will see him become a 50 per cent owner of the Prem Rugby club.
Dyson has been a long-term fan of Bath and regular at The Recreation Ground, and joins Bruce Craig as a co-owner of the club.
Craig bought Bath in 2010 and saw the side realise his dream of becoming Prem champions last season as part of a treble of trophies, and is a close friend of Dyson.
Together, the pair will look to see through plans for a long-mooted new stadium in Bath that was giving council backing in September.
The inventor of the bagless vacuum cleaner, Dyson is the fourth richest man in the United Kingdom according to the Sunday Times Rich List, and his investment will be seen as another coup for Prem Rugby after the recent decision to move away from promotion and relegation and towards a franchising model.
“This is the club I have supported for most of my life,” Dyson said, having been a Bath fan for 45 years. “My children and my grandchildren do so too.
“I stood on the terraces and have watched the high moments as well as the difficult years. Bruce deserves enormous respect for rebuilding the club to be the force that it is today and I am not here to change that. I am here to support, just as I have for the past forty five years but now with greater commitment and responsibility.
“My family and I are proud to stand alongside Bruce as equal partners to further strengthen the foundations of Bath Rugby, realise the new stadium and help ensure its future. Bath Rugby matters deeply to this city and its wonderful supporters who are the most dedicated in the land.”
Dyson’s investment is expected to wipe away much of the club’s existing debt.
The construction of an 18,000-seater stadium to replace the Rec was backed 8-1 at a Bath and North East Somerset Council last year, and will keep the club on a site they have used for more than 130 years.
Plans to modernise The Rec and improve facilities were initially submitted in 2018, and have been discussed for much longer, but have been delayed by design changes and legal disputes.
Dyson’s investment appears key, though, to executing a long-term vision for the club.
For the Prem, his involvement follows the purchasing of Newcastle by Red Bull after a concerted effort to attract new investment into the English top-flight.
Discussions are understood to have been had with Knighthead Capital, owners of football club Birmingham City and investors in The Hundred in cricket, over the prospect of an expansion team.
Under plans unveiled last month, the Prem has scrapped promotion and relegation to move to a new model. Ambitious clubs will instead apply to join the 10-team league and be judged across a range of criteria.
“This is great news for Bath Rugby and their loyal and dedicated fans,” said Simon Massie-Taylor, Prem Rugby chief executive.
“This announcement is testament to the stewardship of Bruce Craig and his leadership team at theclub and confirms just how attractive Prem Rugby now is to investors.
“Everyone associated with Prem Rugby is excited to see Bath continue to grow as they nowaccelerate their exciting plans for their new stadium.”
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