Saints Coach Phil Dowson: ‘I Tried Working for a Bank – It Was Tough’

This English town may not be the most tropical location in the world, but its squad offers plenty of romance and adventure.

In a place known for footwear manufacturing, you might expect kicking to be the Northampton's main approach. Yet under the director of rugby Phil Dowson, the team in green, black and gold choose to run with the ball.

Despite representing a typically British town, they showcase a panache associated with the best Gallic masters of champagne rugby.

From the time Dowson and the head coach Sam Vesty stepped up in 2022, Northampton have claimed victory in the Premiership and advanced far in the Champions Cup – defeated by their Gallic opponents in the previous campaign's decider and eliminated by the Irish province in a penultimate round previously.

They currently top the Prem table after multiple successes and a single stalemate and head to their West Country rivals on the weekend as the sole undefeated team, chasing a first win at their opponent's ground since 2021.

It would be expected to think Dowson, who featured in 262 top-flight fixtures for various teams combined, consistently aimed to be a manager.

“When I played, I didn't really think about it,” he says. “However as you mature, you understand how much you enjoy the sport, and what the everyday life is like. I had a stint at a banking firm doing work experience. You make the journey a multiple instances, and it was tough – you see what you do and don’t have.”

Discussions with club legends culminated in a job at the Saints. Jump ahead a decade and Dowson leads a team increasingly packed with internationals: Tommy Freeman, Fraser Dingwall, Alex Mitchell and Alex Coles were selected for the Red Rose against the the Kiwis two weeks ago.

The young flanker also had a profound impact from the replacements in the national team's successful series while the number ten, down the line, will take over the No 10 jersey.

Is the rise of this remarkable cohort attributable to the club's environment, or is it luck?

“It is a mix of each,” comments Dowson. “My thanks go to Chris Boyd, who thrust them into action, and we had difficult periods. But the exposure they had as a unit is undoubtedly one of the causes they are so close-knit and so skilled.”

Dowson also mentions Mallinder, a former boss at the club's home, as a significant mentor. “I’ve been fortunate to be coached by exceptionally insightful individuals,” he says. “Jim had a major effect on my professional journey, my management style, how I interact with individuals.”

The team demonstrate entertaining rugby, which proved literally true in the case of Anthony Belleau. The Frenchman was involved with the opposing team overcome in the European competition in last season when Freeman registered a three tries. He admired the style enough to reverse the trend of English talent moving to France.

“A mate called me and said: ‘We know of a Gallic number ten who’s in search of a club,’” Dowson explains. “I said: ‘There's no budget for a overseas star. Thomas Ramos will have to wait.’

‘He desires new challenges, for the chance to challenge himself,’ my mate informed me. That caught my attention. We spoke to Belleau and his language skills was incredible, he was well-spoken, he had a witty personality.

“We inquired: ‘What are your goals from this?’ He answered to be guided, to be driven, to be in a new environment and outside the Top 14. I was thinking: ‘Come on in, you’re a great person.’ And he turned out to be. We’re blessed to have him.”

Dowson says the emerging Pollock brings a specific enthusiasm. Does he know a player comparable? “No,” Dowson answers. “Each person is unique but Henry is different and unique in numerous aspects. He’s fearless to be authentic.”

Pollock’s breathtaking try against Leinster in the past campaign demonstrated his exceptional talent, but some of his demonstrative during matches behavior have resulted in claims of cockiness.

“On occasion seems overconfident in his actions, but he’s the opposite,” Dowson asserts. “And Pollock is not taking the piss all the time. Tactically he has ideas – he’s a smart player. I feel sometimes it’s portrayed that he’s just this idiot. But he’s bright and good fun within the team.”

Not many coaches would claim to have enjoying a tight friendship with a head coach, but that is how Dowson characterizes his relationship with Vesty.

“Sam and I have an interest regarding diverse subjects,” he explains. “We run a literary circle. He wants to see everything, aims to learn each detail, desires to try new experiences, and I believe I’m the alike.

“We talk about many things beyond the game: films, reading, thoughts, creativity. When we met Stade [Français] in the past season, Notre-Dame was being done up, so we had a brief exploration.”

Another fixture in Gall is looming: Northampton’s comeback with the domestic league will be brief because the European tournament takes over shortly. Pau, in the foothills of the Pyrenees, are the initial challenge on the coming weekend before the Bulls travel to soon after.

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