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Northampton is hardly the most glamorous spot globally, but its rugby union team delivers an abundance of excitement and passion.

In a town renowned for boot‑making, you would think kicking to be the Northampton's primary strategy. But under head coach Phil Dowson, the team in green, black and gold opt to keep ball in hand.

Although representing a distinctly UK town, they display a panache synonymous with the greatest French exponents of champagne rugby.

Since Dowson and the head coach Sam Vesty stepped up in 2022, the Saints have secured the English top flight and progressed well in the European competition – beaten by Bordeaux-Bègles in last season’s final and ousted by Leinster in a semi-final earlier.

They currently top the Prem table after a series of victories and one tie and head to their West Country rivals on matchday as the sole undefeated team, seeking a maiden victory at their opponent's ground since 2021.

It would be typical to think Dowson, who played 262 premier fixtures for multiple clubs altogether, always planned to be a coach.

“During my career, I never seriously considered it,” he remarks. “However as you age, you understand how much you enjoy the sport, and what the real world entails. I worked briefly at a banking firm doing an internship. You do the commute a multiple instances, and it was challenging – you grasp what you do and don’t have.”

Discussions with former mentors resulted in a job at the Saints. Move forward eight years and Dowson manages a roster ever more packed with national team players: Tommy Freeman, Fraser Dingwall, Alex Mitchell and Alex Coles lined up for the national side versus the All Blacks two weeks ago.

Henry Pollock also had a profound impact from the replacements in the national team's successful series while Fin Smith, in time, will inherit the fly-half role.

Is the rise of this exceptional group because of the team's ethos, or is it chance?

“It is a bit of both,” comments Dowson. “I’d credit the former director of rugby, who thrust them into action, and we had challenging moments. But the exposure they had as a unit is undoubtedly one of the factors they are so united and so skilled.”

Dowson also cites Mallinder, another predecessor at the club's home, as a key figure. “I was lucky to be mentored by really interesting personalities,” he notes. “Jim had a big impact on my career, my training methods, how I manage individuals.”

Northampton play appealing rugby, which proved literally true in the instance of their new signing. The import was part of the opposing team defeated in the Champions Cup in the spring when Tommy Freeman notched a three tries. The player was impressed sufficiently to reverse the trend of British stars heading across the Channel.

“A friend rang me and said: ‘There’s a French 10 who’s looking for a side,’” Dowson explains. “I said: ‘We don’t have budget for a French fly-half. A different option will have to wait.’

‘He wants new challenges, for the opportunity to test himself,’ my contact informed me. That intrigued us. We met with Belleau and his language skills was outstanding, he was well-spoken, he had a witty personality.

“We asked: ‘What are you seeking from this?’ He answered to be guided, to be driven, to be outside his comfort zone and beyond the Top 14. I was thinking: ‘Come on in, you’re a great person.’ And he has been. We’re blessed to have him.”

Dowson says the emerging Pollock offers a unique enthusiasm. Does he know a player like him? “Never,” Dowson replies. “Everyone’s original but Pollock is distinct and special in multiple respects. He’s unafraid to be himself.”

Pollock’s sensational score against the Irish side previously illustrated his exceptional skill, but a few of his demonstrative during matches behavior have resulted in claims of cockiness.

“On occasion seems arrogant in his conduct, but he’s far from it,” Dowson asserts. “And Pollock is not joking around all the time. Game-wise he has contributions – he’s no fool. I think at times it’s portrayed that he’s merely a joker. But he’s bright and good fun within the team.”

Not many directors of rugby would claim to have sharing a close bond with a colleague, but that is how Dowson frames his partnership with Sam Vesty.

“Together possess an inquisitiveness around diverse subjects,” he explains. “We maintain a reading group. He wants to see everything, seeks to understand everything, aims to encounter different things, and I think I’m the same.

“We discuss numerous topics beyond the game: films, books, thoughts, culture. When we faced Stade [Français] in the past season, the landmark was being done up, so we had a brief exploration.”

A further match in France is looming: Northampton’s comeback with the Prem will be short-lived because the Champions Cup kicks in shortly. The French side, in the foothills of the mountain range, are the opening fixture on matchday before the Pretoria-based club arrive at the following weekend.

“I refuse to be presumptuous to the extent to {