🔗 Share this article

This English town is hardly the most tropical destination on the planet, but its rugby union team offers an abundance of thrills and drama.

In a city famous for footwear manufacturing, you might expect boot work to be the Northampton's main approach. However under head coach Phil Dowson, the team in green, black and gold opt to retain possession.

Despite embodying a typically British location, they exhibit a flair associated with the best French practitioners of champagne rugby.

From the time Dowson and his colleague Sam Vesty took over in 2022, the Saints have claimed victory in the Premiership and progressed well in the European competition – losing to Bordeaux-Bègles in last season’s final and eliminated by the Irish province in a last-four clash previously.

They currently top the competition ladder after a series of victories and one tie and head to their West Country rivals on matchday as the only unbeaten side, aiming for a initial success at Bristol's home since 2021.

It would be natural to think Dowson, who participated in 262 top-flight games for multiple clubs altogether, always planned to be a coach.

“During my career, I didn't really think about it,” he says. “But as you age, you realise how much you appreciate the rugby, and what the everyday life looks like. I worked briefly at Metro Bank doing a trial period. You travel to work a few times, and it was challenging – you see what you have going for you.”

Conversations with club legends resulted in a job at Northampton. Move forward several seasons and Dowson leads a squad ever more packed with national team players: prominent figures were selected for England versus the New Zealand two weeks ago.

Henry Pollock also had a major effect from the replacements in the national team's perfect autumn while Fin Smith, down the line, will assume the pivotal position.

Is the emergence of this remarkable generation attributable to the team's ethos, or is it chance?

“This is a combination of the two,” says Dowson. “I would acknowledge an ex-coach, who gave them opportunities, and we had difficult periods. But the experience they had as a group is undoubtedly one of the factors they are so close-knit and so gifted.”

Dowson also mentions his predecessor, a former boss at their stadium, as a key figure. “I was lucky to be guided by exceptionally insightful people,” he says. “Jim had a significant influence on my professional journey, my management style, how I manage individuals.”

Northampton demonstrate appealing rugby, which proved literally true in the example of the French fly-half. The Frenchman was involved with the French club beaten in the continental tournament in last season when the winger scored a triple. Belleau was impressed enough to reverse the trend of English talent moving to France.

“A mate called me and stated: ‘We know of a fly-half from France who’s in search of a side,’” Dowson says. “I said: ‘We don’t have funds for a imported playmaker. A different option will have to wait.’

‘He’s looking for experience, for the chance to prove his worth,’ my contact told me. That interested me. We spoke to Belleau and his English was excellent, he was articulate, he had a funny side.

“We inquired: ‘What do you want from this?’ He said to be coached, to be driven, to be facing unfamiliar situations and beyond the French league. I was like: ‘Join us, you’re a great person.’ And he turned out to be. We’re lucky to have him.”

Dowson states the 20-year-old Pollock offers a unique enthusiasm. Has he coached a player like him? “No,” Dowson replies. “Everyone’s individual but he is different and unique in many ways. He’s fearless to be authentic.”

The player's spectacular try against their opponents in the past campaign illustrated his freakish talent, but a few of his expressive on-field antics have led to claims of arrogance.

“He sometimes seems cocky in his actions, but he’s far from it,” Dowson clarifies. “Furthermore he's being serious the whole time. Game-wise he has contributions – he’s not a clown. I feel on occasion it’s shown that he’s merely a joker. But he’s intelligent and great to have to have around.”

Few coaches would claim to have enjoying a tight friendship with a head coach, but that is how Dowson frames his connection with Sam Vesty.

“Sam and I possess an inquisitiveness about diverse subjects,” he says. “We have a reading group. He wants to see everything, wants to know all there is, wants to experience different things, and I feel like I’m the similar.

“We talk about many topics outside the game: films, books, thoughts, culture. When we met Stade [Français] in the past season, the landmark was under renovation, so we had a little wander around.”

One more fixture in Gall is coming up: The Saints' return with the English competition will be brief because the continental event intervenes shortly. The French side, in the shadow of the border region, are the initial challenge on matchday before the South African team arrive at the following weekend.

“I won't be arrogant to the extent to {