Dyson has announced sponsorship of Bath Rugby, the first time the company - which has its headquarters at Malmesbury - has backed a sports team.

The deal with the the firm, known for its hi-tech vacuum cleaners, fans and hand driers partly came about because founder Sir James Dyson is a fan.

He 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.”

Mr Craig, owner and chairman of Bath Rugby, 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.”

Both companies say they understand the importance of investing in young talent.  One third of all Dyson appointments were graduates last year, while Bath Rugby has invested in a strong Academy structure and has created an environment where young players, such as Ollie Devoto, George Ford, Anthony Watson and Kyle Eastmond, can thrive .

Both Dyson and Bath Rugby like to do things a bit differently and that will be clear in the new player shirts as Dyson have created a set of shirts that match different Dyson technologies with player positions.

Just as each Dyson technology has a 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 full backs will wear Dyson hot + cool; whilst the speedsters in the centre and on the wings will wear Dyson 110,000rpm – after the small, fast Dyson digital motor.