Appliance firm Dyson is to become the new title partner for Premiership side Bath Rugby for the next two seasons, according to Robert Buckland of SWINDON BUSINESS NEWS. The partnership marks the "first of its kind" for Dyson, which is best known for vacuum cleaners. The firm said the "time was right to support a world-class local team with international ambitions." Financial details of the sponsorship deal, which covers the '14-15 and '15-16 seasons, have not been disclosed. The Dyson logo will "now appear on Bath players' jerseys and in all official promotional material and merchandising" (SWINDON BUSINESS NEWS, 7/10). In Bath, Harry Abbott reported inventor and Dyson Owner James Dyson "developed his first ideas in Bath and is the wealthiest man in the South West, according to The Sunday Times Rich List 2014," with his fortune "stable" at £3B ($5.1B) this year. Bath could "probe Dyson on technological developments to give them the edge on the rugby field." As "part of the scheme, next season's strip will see different Dyson technologies partnered with player positions." 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 full-backs will wear Dyson hot + cool, while the speedsters in the centre and on the wings will wear Dyson 110,000rpm" (BATH CHRONICLE, 7/10).
