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This English town isn't exactly the most tropical location in the world, but its squad delivers plenty of excitement and passion.

In a town famous for footwear manufacturing, you would think punting to be the Northampton's primary strategy. But under head coach Phil Dowson, the team in the club's hues choose to retain possession.

Even though playing for a typically British community, they showcase a panache typical of the best French practitioners of expansive play.

From the time Dowson and fellow coach Sam Vesty stepped up in 2022, Northampton have secured the domestic league and progressed well in the European competition – defeated by Bordeaux-Bègles in the previous campaign's decider and knocked out by Dublin-based club in a semi-final earlier.

They currently top the Prem table after four wins and a draw and head to Bristol on Saturday as the only unbeaten side, chasing a first win at Bristol's home since 2021.

It would be natural to think Dowson, who played 262 top-flight fixtures for multiple clubs combined, had long intended to be a trainer.

“As a professional, I hadn't given it much thought,” he remarks. “Yet as you mature, you understand how much you appreciate the rugby, and what the normal employment looks like. I worked briefly at Metro Bank doing work experience. You travel to work a few times, and it was challenging – you see what you have going for you.”

Talks with Dusty Hare and Jim Mallinder led to a role at Northampton. Move forward a decade and Dowson guides a roster ever more crammed with national team players: prominent figures were selected for England versus the New Zealand two weeks ago.

Henry Pollock also had a significant influence from the replacements in the national team's perfect autumn while the number ten, in time, will inherit the fly-half role.

Is the rise of this outstanding group because of the club's environment, or is it luck?

“It's a bit of both,” says Dowson. “I would acknowledge an ex-coach, who basically just threw them in, and we had difficult periods. But the exposure they had as a group is definitely one of the reasons they are so united and so talented.”

Dowson also mentions Jim Mallinder, an earlier coach at the club's home, as a key figure. “I’ve been fortunate to be guided by exceptionally insightful individuals,” he says. “Jim had a major effect on my rugby life, my management style, how I deal with people.”

Saints play attractive the game, which proved literally true in the example of the French fly-half. The import was a member of the French club beaten in the European competition in April when the winger notched a three tries. The player liked what he saw enough to go against the flow of British stars heading across the Channel.

“A friend phoned me and said: ‘There’s a French 10 who’s in search of a team,’” Dowson recalls. “My response was: ‘We don’t have budget for a imported playmaker. A different option will have to wait.’

‘He desires a fresh start, for the chance to test himself,’ my contact said. That caught my attention. We had a conversation with Belleau and his English was incredible, he was well-spoken, he had a sense of humour.

“We questioned: ‘What are your goals from this?’ He said to be trained, to be challenged, to be in a new environment and beyond the French league. I was thinking: ‘Welcome aboard, you’re a legend of a man.’ And he has been. We’re lucky to have him.”

Dowson states the young Henry Pollock provides a specific enthusiasm. Has he encountered anyone like him? “No,” Dowson responds. “Each person is original but Henry is different and unique in many ways. He’s not afraid to be himself.”

The player's spectacular try against the Irish side in the past campaign illustrated his unusual skill, but various his expressive on-field actions have brought claims of cockiness.

“He sometimes seems overconfident in his actions, but he’s the opposite,” Dowson clarifies. “And he's not joking around the whole time. Game-wise he has ideas – he’s no fool. I believe on occasion it’s shown that he’s just this idiot. But he’s bright and great to have to have around.”

Hardly any directors of rugby would describe themselves as having a bromance with a head coach, but that is how Dowson frames his partnership with his co-coach.

“We both have an inquisitiveness regarding diverse subjects,” he says. “We run a book club. He wants to see everything, aims to learn each detail, desires to try different things, and I think I’m the alike.

“We discuss numerous subjects outside the game: movies, books, concepts, art. When we faced the Parisian club last year, Notre-Dame was undergoing restoration, so we had a quick look.”

Another date in Gall is coming up: The Saints' comeback with the Prem will be brief because the continental event kicks in shortly. Pau, in the shadow of the Pyrenees, are up first on matchday before the Pretoria-based club visit a week later.

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