🔗 Share this article

This English town is hardly the most tropical location on the planet, but its rugby union team provides a great deal of romance and adventure.

In a place renowned for footwear manufacturing, you would think kicking to be the Northampton's primary strategy. However under the director of rugby Phil Dowson, the team in their distinctive colors prefer to keep ball in hand.

Despite representing a quintessentially English community, they exhibit a flair typical of the best French masters of attacking rugby.

After Dowson and the head coach Sam Vesty stepped up in 2022, Northampton have won the domestic league and advanced far in the continental tournament – beaten by a French side in last season’s final and ousted by Leinster in a semi-final previously.

They lead the Prem table after multiple successes and a single stalemate and travel to their West Country rivals on the weekend as the sole undefeated team, chasing a maiden victory at their opponent's ground since 2021.

It would be typical to think Dowson, who participated in 262 premier matches for various teams in total, consistently aimed to be a coach.

“During my career, I didn't really think about it,” he remarks. “However as you mature, you realise how much you love the game, and what the normal employment entails. I spent some time at Metro Bank doing a trial period. You do the commute a few times, and it was tough – you realise what you do and don’t have.”

Discussions with Dusty Hare and Jim Mallinder led to a role at Northampton. Fast-forward eight years and Dowson guides a team ever more packed with national team players: Tommy Freeman, Fraser Dingwall, Alex Mitchell and Alex Coles were selected for the Red Rose against the All Blacks two weeks ago.

Henry Pollock also had a significant influence as a substitute in the national team's successful series while Fin Smith, down the line, will assume the pivotal position.

Is the rise of this outstanding group attributable to the team's ethos, or is it fortune?

“It is a combination of the two,” says Dowson. “I’d credit Chris Boyd, who gave them opportunities, and we had challenging moments. But the practice they had as a group is undoubtedly one of the factors they are so close-knit and so gifted.”

Dowson also namechecks Jim Mallinder, a former boss at their stadium, as a major influence. “I was lucky to be guided by really interesting individuals,” he adds. “He had a significant influence on my professional journey, my coaching, how I deal with individuals.”

Saints execute entertaining rugby, which was clearly evident in the instance of their new signing. The import was a member of the opposing team defeated in the European competition in April when Freeman scored a triple. The player admired the style to such an extent to go against the flow of British stars heading across the Channel.

“An associate rang me and remarked: ‘There’s a Gallic number ten who’s seeking a side,’” Dowson recalls. “I said: ‘There's no budget for a French fly-half. A different option will have to wait.’

‘He’s looking for a fresh start, for the chance to challenge himself,’ my contact informed me. That interested me. We had a conversation with Anthony and his communication was outstanding, he was eloquent, he had a witty personality.

“We inquired: ‘What are you seeking from this?’ He said to be coached, to be driven, to be outside his comfort zone and beyond the Top 14. I was thinking: ‘Come on in, you’re a fantastic individual.’ And he proved to be. We’re blessed to have him.”

Dowson states the young Henry Pollock provides a unique enthusiasm. Does he know anyone comparable? “Never,” Dowson answers. “Each person is individual but he is unusual and remarkable in multiple respects. He’s not afraid to be himself.”

His sensational try against the Irish side last season showcased his freakish skill, but a few of his animated in-game actions have brought accusations of overconfidence.

“He sometimes appears arrogant in his actions, but he’s not,” Dowson clarifies. “And he's being serious constantly. Game-wise he has ideas – he’s not a clown. I feel sometimes it’s shown that he’s merely a joker. But he’s intelligent and great to have in the squad.”

Few directors of rugby would describe themselves as having a bromance with a colleague, but that is how Dowson frames his connection with his co-coach.

“Sam and I share an inquisitiveness about diverse subjects,” he explains. “We run a book club. He desires to explore everything, wants to know everything, aims to encounter varied activities, and I feel like I’m the alike.

“We discuss lots of topics away from the game: cinema, reading, ideas, art. When we faced the Parisian club in the past season, Notre-Dame was undergoing restoration, so we had a brief exploration.”

A further match in France is looming: The Saints' return with the domestic league will be brief because the continental event intervenes shortly. Pau, in the shadow of the Pyrenees, are up first on matchday before the Bulls arrive at a week later.

“I’m not going to be arrogant enough to {