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Northampton is hardly the most tropical destination globally, but its club offers plenty of excitement and passion.

In a city known for boot‑making, you could anticipate boot work to be the Northampton's modus operandi. Yet under head coach Phil Dowson, the squad in green, black and gold choose to run with the ball.

Despite embodying a distinctly UK location, they display a style typical of the best Gallic masters of expansive play.

From the time Dowson and the head coach Sam Vesty stepped up in 2022, the Saints have claimed victory in the Premiership and gone deep in the European competition – losing to their Gallic opponents in last season’s final and knocked out by Leinster in a last-four clash previously.

They currently top the league standings after four wins and a draw and travel to Ashton Gate on matchday as the only unbeaten side, seeking a first win at their opponent's ground since 2021.

It would be expected to think Dowson, who featured in 262 top-flight games for multiple clubs in total, had long intended to be a coach.

“As a professional, I hadn't given it much thought,” he remarks. “But as you mature, you understand how much you enjoy the rugby, and what the normal employment is like. I had a stint at a financial institution doing a trial period. You make the journey a few times, and it was difficult – you grasp what you do and don’t have.”

Conversations with Dusty Hare and Jim Mallinder culminated in a job at Northampton. Jump ahead a decade and Dowson manages a roster increasingly packed with global stars: Tommy Freeman, Fraser Dingwall, Alex Mitchell and Alex Coles lined up for England against the the Kiwis two weeks ago.

The young flanker also had a significant influence off the bench in England’s perfect autumn while Fin Smith, in time, will assume the fly-half role.

Is the development of this exceptional generation because of the Saints’ culture, or is it fortune?

“This is a bit of both,” comments Dowson. “My thanks go to an ex-coach, who gave them opportunities, and we had difficult periods. But the exposure they had as a group is undoubtedly one of the reasons they are so united and so talented.”

Dowson also namechecks Mallinder, an earlier coach at the club's home, as a significant mentor. “I was lucky to be mentored by highly engaging personalities,” he adds. “Mallinder had a major effect on my career, my training methods, how I interact with others.”

The team play appealing football, which became obvious in the example of the French fly-half. The import was involved with the French club overcome in the European competition in the spring when the winger notched a hat-trick. The player liked what he saw enough to go against the flow of British stars heading across the Channel.

“A mate rang me and said: ‘There’s a fly-half from France who’s in search of a side,’” Dowson says. “My response was: ‘We lack the money for a overseas star. Thomas Ramos will have to wait.’

‘He desires experience, for the opportunity to prove his worth,’ my contact said. That interested me. We met with Belleau and his communication was excellent, he was eloquent, he had a sense of humour.

“We inquired: ‘What are you seeking from this?’ He said to be guided, to be driven, to be facing unfamiliar situations and outside the Top 14. I was thinking: ‘Welcome aboard, you’re a fantastic individual.’ And he turned out to be. We’re lucky to have him.”

Dowson comments the 20-year-old Henry Pollock provides a unique vitality. Has he coached a player similar? “Not really,” Dowson answers. “All players are individual but he is different and unique in numerous aspects. He’s fearless to be who he is.”

The player's sensational try against Leinster previously demonstrated his unusual ability, but some of his expressive during matches actions have resulted in allegations of arrogance.

“He sometimes appears cocky in his actions, but he’s not,” Dowson asserts. “Furthermore Henry’s being serious all the time. Tactically he has ideas – he’s no fool. I believe sometimes it’s depicted that he’s only a character. But he’s bright and great to have to have around.”

Few managers would admit to sharing a close bond with a colleague, but that is how Dowson frames his connection with his co-coach.

“Sam and I possess an interest around diverse subjects,” he explains. “We maintain a reading group. He wants to see everything, aims to learn each detail, aims to encounter varied activities, and I think I’m the same.

“We converse on lots of subjects outside the game: cinema, literature, thoughts, creativity. When we met the Parisian club last year, the landmark was being done up, so we had a quick look.”

One more fixture in the French nation is looming: Northampton’s reacquaintance with the English competition will be brief because the continental event takes over shortly. Their next opponents, in the foothills of the Pyrenees, are the initial challenge on the coming weekend before the Bulls arrive at soon after.

“I’m not going to be presumptuous to the extent to {