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This English town isn't exactly the most glamorous location in the world, but its rugby union team offers an abundance of thrills and drama.

In a town famous for footwear manufacturing, you might expect boot work to be the Saints’ modus operandi. However under leader Phil Dowson, the team in the club's hues prefer to run with the ball.

Despite playing for a typically British location, they display a panache typical of the greatest Gallic exponents of champagne rugby.

From the time Dowson and his colleague Sam Vesty assumed control in 2022, Northampton have claimed victory in the English top flight and progressed well in the continental tournament – beaten by their Gallic opponents in the previous campaign's decider and eliminated by the Irish province in a penultimate round before that.

They currently top the league standings after multiple successes and a single stalemate and head to Bristol on matchday as the just one without a loss, chasing a first win at Ashton Gate since 2021.

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

“When I played, I never seriously considered it,” he remarks. “But as you get older, you realise how much you appreciate the rugby, and what the everyday life looks like. I worked briefly at a financial institution doing a trial period. You make the journey a few times, and it was tough – you realise what you have going for you.”

Discussions with club legends led to a role at Northampton. Fast-forward a decade and Dowson guides a roster progressively packed with internationals: Tommy Freeman, Fraser Dingwall, Alex Mitchell and Alex Coles started for the Red Rose versus the All Blacks two weeks ago.

The young flanker also had a significant influence from the replacements in the national team's flawless campaign while Fin Smith, in time, will inherit the No 10 jersey.

Is the rise of this exceptional group due to the Saints’ culture, or is it chance?

“It's a mix of each,” says Dowson. “I would acknowledge Chris Boyd, who thrust them into action, and we had difficult periods. But the experience they had as a unit is definitely one of the causes they are so united and so talented.”

Dowson also mentions his predecessor, a former boss at their stadium, as a key figure. “It was my good fortune to be mentored by exceptionally insightful people,” he notes. “He had a significant influence on my professional journey, my coaching, how I deal with individuals.”

Northampton play entertaining the game, which proved literally true in the example of Anthony Belleau. The Frenchman was involved with the opposing team defeated in the continental tournament in April when the winger scored a three tries. Belleau liked what he saw enough to buck the pattern of English talent heading across the Channel.

“A friend called me and remarked: ‘We know of a French 10 who’s in search of a team,’” Dowson says. “I replied: ‘We don’t have funds for a French fly-half. Another target will have to wait.’

‘He’s looking for new challenges, for the opportunity to challenge himself,’ my contact said. That intrigued us. We had a conversation with Belleau and his communication was excellent, he was articulate, he had a witty personality.

“We questioned: ‘What are your goals from this?’ He responded to be coached, to be pushed, to be in a new environment and beyond the French league. I was saying: ‘Welcome aboard, you’re a great person.’ And he turned out to be. We’re blessed to have him.”

Dowson says the young Henry Pollock offers a particular vitality. Does he know anyone similar? “Never,” Dowson answers. “Each person is unique but he is unusual and remarkable in numerous aspects. He’s fearless to be himself.”

The player's spectacular touchdown against their opponents in the past campaign showcased his exceptional skill, but various his animated during matches antics have resulted in accusations of overconfidence.

“He sometimes comes across as overconfident in his behavior, but he’s the opposite,” Dowson says. “And he's not joking around constantly. Game-wise he has ideas – he’s a smart player. I think at times it’s portrayed that he’s only a character. But he’s clever and a positive influence within the team.”

Hardly any directors of rugby would describe themselves as enjoying a tight friendship with a assistant, but that is how Dowson describes his connection with Sam Vesty.

“Sam and I possess an inquisitiveness regarding diverse subjects,” he notes. “We maintain a reading group. He wants to see everything, wants to know everything, desires to try different things, and I believe I’m the alike.

“We discuss lots of topics away from the game: films, books, thoughts, culture. When we played our French rivals last year, Notre-Dame was undergoing restoration, so we had a brief exploration.”

Another fixture in France is coming up: The Saints' return with the domestic league will be brief because the Champions Cup intervenes soon. The French side, in the shadow of the mountain range, are the opening fixture on Sunday week before the South African team travel to a week later.

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