🔗 Share this article

This English town isn't exactly the most tropical spot globally, but its rugby union team delivers a great deal of excitement and passion.

In a city famous for footwear manufacturing, you would think kicking to be the Northampton's main approach. Yet under leader Phil Dowson, the side in green, black and gold choose to run with the ball.

Even though playing for a quintessentially English location, they exhibit a style associated with the greatest Gallic masters of attacking rugby.

From the time Dowson and his colleague Sam Vesty took over in 2022, the Saints have secured the domestic league and gone deep in the European competition – losing to a French side in the previous campaign's decider and knocked out by Dublin-based club in a semi-final before that.

They lead the competition ladder after four wins and a draw and travel to Bristol on Saturday as the sole undefeated team, seeking a first win at Bristol's home since 2021.

It would be typical to think Dowson, who participated in 262 elite matches for multiple clubs combined, had long intended to be a manager.

“When I played, I didn't really think about it,” he says. “However as you get older, you comprehend how much you love the rugby, and what the normal employment entails. I spent some time at a banking firm doing a trial period. You make the journey a few times, and it was tough – you see what you have going for you.”

Conversations with club legends resulted in a position at Northampton. Move forward a decade and Dowson manages a team increasingly filled with national team players: Tommy Freeman, Fraser Dingwall, Alex Mitchell and Alex Coles started for the Red Rose versus the All Blacks two weeks ago.

An emerging talent also had a profound impact from the replacements in England’s perfect autumn while the number ten, in time, will inherit the fly-half role.

Is the development of this remarkable group due to the club's environment, or is it chance?

“This is a bit of both,” states Dowson. “I would acknowledge an ex-coach, who thrust them into action, and we had challenging moments. But the practice they had as a group is certainly one of the causes they are so close-knit and so gifted.”

Dowson also mentions Jim Mallinder, another predecessor at their stadium, as a significant mentor. “I was lucky to be coached by really interesting people,” he adds. “He had a significant influence on my career, my management style, how I interact with others.”

Saints execute entertaining football, which was clearly evident in the example of Anthony Belleau. The import was part of the opposing team overcome in the European competition in April when Freeman scored a triple. He liked what he saw enough to reverse the trend of UK players moving to France.

“A friend phoned me and remarked: ‘There’s a Gallic number ten who’s in search of a club,’” Dowson says. “I said: ‘There's no budget for a imported playmaker. A different option will have to wait.’

‘He wants a fresh start, for the opportunity to prove his worth,’ my mate informed me. That interested me. We met with Belleau and his language skills was outstanding, he was eloquent, he had a witty personality.

“We inquired: ‘What do you want from this?’ He responded to be trained, to be pushed, to be in a new environment and beyond the French league. I was like: ‘Welcome aboard, you’re a legend of a man.’ And he proved to be. We’re lucky to have him.”

Dowson says the young Henry Pollock provides a specific energy. Has he coached anyone similar? “Never,” Dowson answers. “Everyone’s original but he is unusual and remarkable in multiple respects. He’s fearless to be authentic.”

The player's breathtaking touchdown against their opponents previously showcased his freakish ability, but some of his animated in-game actions have led to allegations of overconfidence.

“On occasion comes across as cocky in his behavior, but he’s far from it,” Dowson clarifies. “And Pollock is not taking the piss the whole time. Tactically he has ideas – he’s a smart player. I believe sometimes it’s shown that he’s just this idiot. But he’s clever and good fun to have around.”

Few directors of rugby would claim to have having a bromance with a head coach, but that is how Dowson characterizes his partnership with his co-coach.

“Together possess an interest about diverse subjects,” he explains. “We maintain a book club. He desires to explore all aspects, aims to learn everything, wants to experience different things, and I feel like I’m the alike.

“We converse on lots of things away from the game: movies, reading, thoughts, art. When we faced the Parisian club previously, Notre-Dame was being done up, so we had a little wander around.”

Another match in France is approaching: Northampton’s comeback with the Prem will be brief because the Champions Cup intervenes next week. Pau, in the vicinity of the Pyrenees, are the initial challenge on matchday before the Bulls arrive at the following weekend.

“I refuse to be overconfident sufficiently to {