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This English town may not be the most glamorous location globally, but its rugby union team delivers plenty of thrills and drama.

In a place known for shoe production, you would think punting to be the Saints’ main approach. However under leader Phil Dowson, the team in their distinctive colors prefer to keep ball in hand.

Although embodying a typically British community, they display a flair associated with the finest French exponents of champagne rugby.

After Dowson and fellow coach Sam Vesty assumed control in 2022, Northampton have claimed victory in the English top flight and gone deep in the continental tournament – losing to a French side in the ultimate match and ousted by the Irish province in a last-four clash before that.

They lead the league standings after a series of victories and one tie and visit their West Country rivals on the weekend as the sole undefeated team, seeking a initial success at Bristol's home since 2021.

It would be natural to think Dowson, who featured in 262 premier fixtures for multiple clubs combined, always planned to be a trainer.

“When I played, I hadn't given it much thought,” he remarks. “However as you age, you realise how much you appreciate the sport, and what the real world is like. I had a stint at a financial institution doing an internship. You travel to work a several occasions, and it was challenging – you realise what you do and don’t have.”

Talks with club legends led to a role at Northampton. Fast-forward a decade and Dowson leads a roster ever more crammed with internationals: Tommy Freeman, Fraser Dingwall, Alex Mitchell and Alex Coles lined up for the national side against the All Blacks two weeks ago.

The young flanker also had a major effect as a substitute in the national team's successful series while the fly-half, eventually, will inherit the fly-half role.

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

“It's a bit of both,” says Dowson. “I’d credit Chris Boyd, who thrust them into action, and we had difficult periods. But the practice they had as a group is certainly one of the factors they are so tight and so gifted.”

Dowson also namechecks Jim Mallinder, an earlier coach at their stadium, as a key figure. “I’ve been fortunate to be guided by highly engaging individuals,” he adds. “Mallinder had a significant influence on my professional journey, my training methods, how I interact with individuals.”

Northampton play entertaining football, which became obvious in the example of their new signing. The Gallic player was involved with the opposing team overcome in the continental tournament in last season when the winger notched a three tries. He admired the style sufficiently to go against the flow of English talent joining Top 14 sides.

“A mate rang me and stated: ‘We've found a French 10 who’s in search of a team,’” Dowson says. “I replied: ‘We lack the funds for a imported playmaker. Another target will have to wait.’

‘He desires experience, for the opportunity to challenge himself,’ my mate informed me. That interested me. We had a conversation with Belleau and his English was excellent, he was articulate, he had a witty personality.

“We asked: ‘What are your goals from this?’ He responded to be guided, to be driven, to be in a new environment and outside the French league. I was thinking: ‘Join us, you’re a fantastic individual.’ And he has been. We’re blessed to have him.”

Dowson states the emerging Pollock brings a unique vitality. Does he know a player like him? “No,” Dowson responds. “Everyone’s unique but Pollock is unusual and remarkable in many ways. He’s unafraid to be who he is.”

His spectacular try against Leinster last season demonstrated his freakish talent, but some of his expressive on-field antics have brought accusations of overconfidence.

“On occasion seems arrogant in his actions, but he’s not,” Dowson clarifies. “Furthermore Pollock is being serious all the time. In terms of strategy he has ideas – he’s no fool. I believe sometimes it’s portrayed that he’s just this idiot. But he’s bright and good fun to have around.”

Hardly any managers would claim to have sharing a close bond with a head coach, but that is how Dowson describes his relationship with his co-coach.

“Sam and I possess an inquisitiveness around different things,” he explains. “We maintain a reading group. He wants to see various elements, seeks to understand all there is, aims to encounter varied activities, and I think I’m the alike.

“We discuss lots of topics beyond the sport: movies, literature, thoughts, culture. When we faced the Parisian club in the past season, Notre-Dame was being done up, so we had a little wander around.”

One more fixture in the French nation is coming up: Northampton’s return with the domestic league will be temporary because the European tournament takes over next week. Pau, in the shadow of the mountain range, are the initial challenge on Sunday week before the South African team arrive at the following weekend.

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