Northampton Coach Phil Dowson: ‘I Tried Working for a Bank – It Was Tough’

Northampton isn't exactly the most glamorous spot on the planet, but its squad offers plenty of excitement and passion.

In a town renowned for shoe production, you might expect boot work to be the Northampton's primary strategy. However under head coach Phil Dowson, the side in green, black and gold choose to run with the ball.

Despite representing a distinctly UK town, they display a panache synonymous with the greatest French masters of attacking rugby.

From the time Dowson and fellow coach Sam Vesty assumed control in 2022, Northampton have claimed victory in the English top flight and advanced far in the Champions Cup – defeated by a French side in last season’s final and ousted by the Irish province in a semi-final previously.

They sit atop the league standings after multiple successes and a single stalemate and head to Bristol on Saturday as the only unbeaten side, chasing a initial success at Bristol's home since 2021.

It would be expected to think Dowson, who featured in 262 premier matches for Newcastle, Northampton and Worcester combined, always planned to be a manager.

“As a professional, I hadn't given it much thought,” he says. “Yet as you mature, you realise how much you appreciate the game, and what the normal employment is like. I worked briefly at a banking firm doing work experience. You travel to work a several occasions, and it was challenging – you realise what you have going for you.”

Talks with Dusty Hare and Jim Mallinder led to a job at the Saints. Move forward a decade and Dowson manages a squad increasingly crammed with global stars: Tommy Freeman, Fraser Dingwall, Alex Mitchell and Alex Coles were selected for the national side facing the All Blacks two weeks ago.

Henry Pollock also had a major effect as a substitute in the national team's flawless campaign while the number ten, eventually, will inherit the pivotal position.

Is the emergence of this exceptional generation due to the Saints’ culture, or is it luck?

“This is a bit of both,” comments Dowson. “My thanks go to the former director of rugby, who basically just threw them in, and we had difficult periods. But the exposure they had as a unit is definitely one of the factors they are so united and so skilled.”

Dowson also cites Mallinder, a former boss at the club's home, as a significant mentor. “I’ve been fortunate to be mentored by highly engaging people,” he adds. “Mallinder had a major effect on my rugby life, my coaching, how I deal with people.”

The team execute attractive rugby, which proved literally true in the instance of the French fly-half. The import was involved with the Clermont XV overcome in the Champions Cup in April when the winger scored a three tries. Belleau admired the style enough to go against the flow of British stars joining Top 14 sides.

“A mate called me and remarked: ‘We've found a fly-half from France who’s in search of a team,’” Dowson explains. “I replied: ‘We don’t have budget for a French fly-half. Another target will have to wait.’

‘He desires experience, for the opportunity to test himself,’ my mate told me. That caught my attention. We spoke to Anthony and his communication was excellent, he was well-spoken, he had a witty personality.

“We inquired: ‘What do you want from this?’ He responded to be guided, to be challenged, to be outside his comfort zone and beyond the Top 14. I was saying: ‘Join us, you’re a legend of a man.’ And he proved to be. We’re blessed to have him.”

Dowson comments the young Pollock brings a specific vitality. Has he encountered a player comparable? “Not really,” Dowson responds. “All players are individual but he is different and unique in many ways. He’s fearless to be authentic.”

Pollock’s breathtaking score against their opponents previously demonstrated his exceptional skill, but some of his expressive on-field behavior have resulted in accusations of cockiness.

“He sometimes appears cocky in his behavior, but he’s far from it,” Dowson says. “And Pollock is not joking around the whole time. Game-wise he has ideas – he’s no fool. I think on occasion it’s depicted that he’s only a character. But he’s bright and good fun within the team.”

Few directors of rugby would claim to have sharing a close bond with a assistant, but that is how Dowson frames his connection with Sam Vesty.

“Together share an curiosity about different things,” he notes. “We run a reading group. He wants to see various elements, wants to know all there is, wants to experience varied activities, and I feel like I’m the same.

“We converse on lots of topics outside the game: films, reading, concepts, culture. When we met Stade [Français] previously, the cathedral was undergoing restoration, so we had a little wander around.”

A further date in France is looming: The Saints' comeback with the English competition will be brief because the continental event intervenes shortly. Their next opponents, in the shadow of the Pyrenees, are the initial challenge on Sunday week before the Pretoria-based club travel to the following weekend.

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