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This English town is hardly the most tropical spot on the planet, but its rugby union team provides an abundance of excitement and passion.

In a city renowned for boot‑making, you could anticipate punting to be the Saints’ modus operandi. But under leader Phil Dowson, the team in their distinctive colors prefer to keep ball in hand.

Despite embodying a distinctly UK town, they exhibit a style associated with the finest Gallic exponents of champagne rugby.

Since Dowson and the head coach Sam Vesty took over in 2022, the Saints have secured the English top flight and progressed well in the continental tournament – defeated by a French side in last season’s final and eliminated by Dublin-based club in a semi-final before that.

They sit atop the competition ladder after a series of victories and one tie and head to their West Country rivals on matchday as the sole undefeated team, seeking a initial success at Ashton Gate since 2021.

It would be typical to think Dowson, who played 262 elite matches for multiple clubs combined, consistently aimed to be a coach.

“During my career, I never seriously considered it,” he says. “But as you get older, you realise how much you enjoy the sport, and what the normal employment is like. I had a stint at Metro Bank doing a trial period. You travel to work a several occasions, and it was difficult – you see what you have going for you.”

Talks with club legends culminated in a role at Northampton. Fast-forward a decade and Dowson guides a roster ever more packed with national team players: prominent figures were selected for the Red Rose against the the Kiwis two weeks ago.

The young flanker also had a profound impact off the bench in the national team's perfect autumn while Fin Smith, in time, will inherit the No 10 jersey.

Is the rise of this remarkable cohort attributable to the Saints’ culture, or is it luck?

“This is a combination of the two,” states Dowson. “My thanks go to Chris Boyd, who thrust them into action, and we had challenging moments. But the experience they had as a collective is undoubtedly one of the causes they are so tight and so talented.”

Dowson also namechecks Jim Mallinder, an earlier coach at the club's home, as a significant mentor. “I’ve been fortunate to be coached by exceptionally insightful people,” he adds. “Mallinder had a big impact on my career, my coaching, how I manage others.”

Northampton play attractive football, which was clearly evident in the example of their new signing. The import was involved with the Clermont XV defeated in the continental tournament in April when the winger registered a triple. The player was impressed to such an extent to reverse the trend of UK players moving to France.

“An associate phoned me and remarked: ‘We know of a Gallic number ten who’s looking for a team,’” Dowson explains. “My response was: ‘We don’t have funds for a overseas star. A different option will have to wait.’

‘He’s looking for experience, for the opportunity to challenge himself,’ my friend told me. That interested me. We had a conversation with Belleau and his language skills was excellent, he was well-spoken, he had a sense of humour.

“We inquired: ‘What are your goals from this?’ He responded to be coached, to be driven, to be facing unfamiliar situations and outside the French league. I was like: ‘Come on in, you’re a legend of a man.’ And he turned out to be. We’re lucky to have him.”

Dowson says the young Pollock offers a particular vitality. Has he coached anyone similar? “Not really,” Dowson replies. “Each person is individual but Pollock is different and unique in many ways. He’s not afraid to be authentic.”

Pollock’s sensational try against the Irish side last season demonstrated his freakish ability, but some of his expressive in-game actions have brought claims of overconfidence.

“At times seems arrogant in his behavior, but he’s the opposite,” Dowson clarifies. “Furthermore he's not joking around constantly. Tactically he has ideas – he’s no fool. I think on occasion it’s shown that he’s merely a joker. But he’s clever and good fun in the squad.”

Not many directors of rugby would admit to sharing a close bond with a colleague, but that is how Dowson frames his relationship with Vesty.

“We both possess an inquisitiveness around various topics,” he explains. “We run a literary circle. He desires to explore various elements, aims to learn each detail, aims to encounter different things, and I think I’m the same.

“We converse on numerous topics beyond the game: movies, books, ideas, culture. When we faced Stade [Français] in the past season, the cathedral was undergoing restoration, so we had a little wander around.”

A further fixture in Gall is looming: The Saints' comeback with the domestic league will be brief because the European tournament takes over soon. Pau, in the foothills of the Pyrenees, are up first on the coming weekend before the South African team visit the following weekend.

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