Saints Coach Phil Dowson: ‘My Bank Job Was a Real Challenge’

Northampton may not be the most exotic location on the planet, but its rugby union team provides plenty of romance and adventure.

In a city famous for footwear manufacturing, you would think boot work to be the Northampton's main approach. Yet under the director of rugby Phil Dowson, the team in their distinctive colors choose to keep ball in hand.

Although playing for a typically British town, they showcase a flair synonymous with the best Gallic masters of champagne rugby.

From the time Dowson and his colleague Sam Vesty assumed control in 2022, the Saints have won the English top flight and gone deep in the continental tournament – defeated by a French side in the previous campaign's decider and eliminated by Leinster in a semi-final previously.

They lead the competition ladder after a series of victories and one tie and travel to their West Country rivals on Saturday as the sole undefeated team, aiming for a first win at Ashton Gate since 2021.

It would be expected to think Dowson, who featured in 262 top-flight games for Newcastle, Northampton and Worcester in total, consistently aimed to be a trainer.

“When I played, I hadn't given it much thought,” he says. “However as you mature, you comprehend how much you love the sport, and what the normal employment looks like. I spent some time at Metro Bank doing an internship. You do the commute a multiple instances, and it was challenging – you realise what you do and don’t have.”

Talks with Dusty Hare and Jim Mallinder culminated in a role at the Saints. Jump ahead a decade and Dowson manages a team ever more packed with global stars: key individuals started for the national side versus the the Kiwis two weeks ago.

An emerging talent also had a profound impact as a substitute in England’s flawless campaign while the fly-half, eventually, will assume the fly-half role.

Is the emergence of this remarkable generation because of the club's environment, or is it luck?

“This is a bit of both,” says Dowson. “I’d credit an ex-coach, who basically just threw them in, and we had difficult periods. But the exposure they had as a unit is definitely one of the causes they are so close-knit and so talented.”

Dowson also namechecks Mallinder, a former boss at Franklin’s Gardens, as a key figure. “I was lucky to be guided by highly engaging individuals,” he adds. “Mallinder had a major effect on my professional journey, my coaching, how I deal with individuals.”

The team demonstrate entertaining football, which was clearly evident in the example of their new signing. The Gallic player was a member of the opposing team beaten in the European competition in last season when Freeman notched a triple. The player liked what he saw to such an extent to buck the pattern of UK players joining Top 14 sides.

“A friend called me and said: ‘We know of a Gallic number ten who’s looking for a team,’” Dowson says. “I replied: ‘There's no funds for a French fly-half. A different option will have to wait.’

‘He’s looking for a fresh start, for the possibility to test himself,’ my mate informed me. That caught my attention. We met with him and his language skills was outstanding, he was eloquent, he had a funny side.

“We inquired: ‘What do you want from this?’ He responded to be trained, to be pushed, to be outside his comfort zone and away from the Top 14. I was thinking: ‘Join us, you’re a great person.’ And he turned out to be. We’re lucky to have him.”

Dowson says the young Pollock offers a particular energy. Has he encountered an individual comparable? “No,” Dowson replies. “All players are original but he is distinct and special in many ways. He’s not afraid to be himself.”

His sensational score against the Irish side previously showcased his unusual talent, but a few of his animated in-game behavior have resulted in allegations of overconfidence.

“He sometimes comes across as arrogant in his conduct, but he’s far from it,” Dowson clarifies. “And he's not taking the piss all the time. In terms of strategy he has input – he’s no fool. I believe sometimes it’s depicted that he’s only a character. But he’s clever and a positive influence in the squad.”

Few directors of rugby would admit to having a bromance with a head coach, but that is how Dowson characterizes his relationship with Sam Vesty.

“Sam and I possess an inquisitiveness around various topics,” he explains. “We run a literary circle. He wants to see various elements, wants to know each detail, wants to experience new experiences, and I feel like I’m the similar.

“We discuss numerous topics away from rugby: cinema, literature, ideas, creativity. When we played the Parisian club last year, the landmark was being done up, so we had a brief exploration.”

A further fixture in the French nation is approaching: The Saints' reacquaintance with the domestic league will be brief because the continental event takes over next week. Their next opponents, in the vicinity of the Pyrenees, are the opening fixture on the coming weekend before the South African team travel to a week later.

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