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Northampton may not be the most exotic destination globally, but its club provides a great deal of excitement and passion.

In a town known for footwear manufacturing, you could anticipate boot work to be the Northampton's main approach. However under leader Phil Dowson, the side in their distinctive colors prefer to keep ball in hand.

Although embodying a distinctly UK community, they display a panache typical of the best French masters of attacking rugby.

After Dowson and the head coach Sam Vesty assumed control in 2022, the Saints have won the English top flight and advanced far in the European competition – beaten by Bordeaux-Bègles 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 visit their West Country rivals on the weekend as the sole undefeated team, aiming for a maiden victory at Bristol's home since 2021.

It would be expected to think Dowson, who played 262 premier fixtures for multiple clubs in total, consistently aimed to be a coach.

“As a professional, I hadn't given it much thought,” he says. “But as you age, you realise how much you love the rugby, and what the normal employment is like. I had a stint at a financial institution doing an internship. You travel to work a few times, and it was challenging – you see what you do and don’t have.”

Conversations with club legends resulted in a position at the Saints. Move forward several seasons and Dowson leads a team ever more packed with internationals: prominent figures were selected for England versus the New Zealand two weeks ago.

An emerging talent also had a significant influence as a substitute in the national team's flawless campaign while the number ten, eventually, will inherit the pivotal position.

Is the development of this exceptional cohort attributable to the club's environment, or is it chance?

“This is a mix of each,” states Dowson. “I would acknowledge an ex-coach, who gave them opportunities, and we had challenging moments. But the exposure they had as a collective is certainly one of the factors they are so close-knit and so talented.”

Dowson also namechecks his predecessor, an earlier coach at the club's home, as a key figure. “I was lucky to be coached by exceptionally insightful individuals,” he says. “Mallinder had a major effect on my professional journey, my coaching, how I deal with people.”

The team demonstrate attractive the game, which became obvious in the example of the French fly-half. The import was part of the Clermont XV beaten in the continental tournament in last season when Freeman registered a three tries. Belleau was impressed enough to go against the flow of UK players joining Top 14 sides.

“An associate called me and remarked: ‘There’s a fly-half from France who’s looking for a club,’” Dowson says. “I replied: ‘We lack the money for a imported playmaker. Another target will have to wait.’

‘He’s looking for experience, for the opportunity to prove his worth,’ my contact informed me. That intrigued us. We met with him and his language skills was outstanding, he was eloquent, he had a sense of humour.

“We asked: ‘What are your goals from this?’ He answered to be coached, to be pushed, to be in a new environment and beyond the domestic competition. I was thinking: ‘Join us, you’re a fantastic individual.’ And he proved to be. We’re blessed to have him.”

Dowson states the 20-year-old the flanker offers a specific enthusiasm. Has he coached anyone like him? “No,” Dowson replies. “All players are original but Pollock is unusual and remarkable in numerous aspects. He’s fearless to be authentic.”

Pollock’s breathtaking touchdown against their opponents last season demonstrated his freakish ability, but some of his expressive in-game behavior have brought allegations of cockiness.

“On occasion appears overconfident in his behavior, but he’s not,” Dowson asserts. “Plus Henry’s not joking around all the time. In terms of strategy he has ideas – he’s no fool. I think at times it’s portrayed that he’s merely a joker. But he’s clever and great to have within the team.”

Few managers would describe themselves as enjoying a tight friendship with a assistant, but that is how Dowson frames his partnership with Vesty.

“We both possess an interest about various topics,” he explains. “We maintain a literary circle. He desires to explore all aspects, wants to know everything, wants to experience new experiences, and I feel like I’m the alike.

“We talk about lots of things away from the game: films, reading, concepts, culture. When we faced our French rivals in the past season, the cathedral was being done up, so we had a little wander around.”

One more match in the French nation is coming up: Northampton’s comeback with the English competition will be short-lived because the Champions Cup kicks in next week. The French side, in the vicinity of the mountain range, are the opening fixture on matchday before the Pretoria-based club arrive at a week later.

“I won't be arrogant enough to {