Bath Rugby announced this week that Wiltshire billionaire Sir James Dyson has acquired a 50 per cent ownership stake in the group comprising Bath Rugby, Arena 1865, the club’s stadium development company, and the Farleigh training facilities.
Sir James will commit substantial new capital to the group to reduce existing debt and support the development of the club’s new stadium.
The transaction establishes a long term 50:50 partnership between Sir James and Bruce Craig, the latter of whom will continue to run Bath Rugby and lead the club’s next phase of development on and off the field.
Since acquiring the club in 2009, Craig has guided Bath Rugby through the pandemic, its financial aftermath and the wider volatility of the professional game while rebuilding the club into one of rugby’s elite sides. The recent historic treble, ending a 29 year wait for a league title, marked the culmination of that work.
Sir James, who has supported Bath Rugby for more than forty-five years, said the partnership was deeply personal.
“This is the club I have supported for most of my life. 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.”
Bruce Craig said the partnership represented continuity and alignment.
He added, “This has never been a short term project. From the beginning the aim has been to build something resilient, competitive and worthy of the club’s history.
“James understands Bath Rugby first and foremost as a supporter and a friend. His family has stood behind the club for decades and it always felt inevitable that our paths would align in this way.
“I will continue to run Bath Rugby and together we will strengthen its foundations, realise the new stadium and build the club for generations to come.”
Bath Rugby’s team is led by Johann van Graan and captained by Ben Spencer, with Tarquin McDonald as Chief Executive.
Pictured above: Image by Hiro from Pixabay
