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

Northampton is hardly the most exotic location globally, but its rugby union team delivers plenty of romance and adventure.

In a place renowned for shoe production, you would think punting to be the Northampton's main approach. But under the director of rugby Phil Dowson, the team in the club's hues prefer to retain possession.

Despite representing a quintessentially English location, they display a flair typical of the best French practitioners of attacking rugby.

Since Dowson and the head coach Sam Vesty took over in 2022, the Saints have won the Premiership and advanced far in the European competition – beaten by Bordeaux-Bègles in the previous campaign's decider and ousted by the Irish province in a semi-final earlier.

They lead the league standings after a series of victories and one tie and travel to their West Country rivals on Saturday as the only unbeaten side, chasing a maiden victory at Ashton Gate since 2021.

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

“As a professional, I didn't really think about it,” he remarks. “However as you age, you realise how much you love the game, and what the everyday life looks like. I worked briefly at a banking firm doing work experience. You make the journey a multiple instances, and it was challenging – you realise what you have going for you.”

Conversations with club legends culminated in a position at the Saints. Jump ahead eight years and Dowson leads a roster increasingly crammed with national team players: prominent figures lined up for England against the New Zealand two weeks ago.

Henry Pollock also had a profound impact from the replacements in the national team's successful series while Fin Smith, down the line, will inherit the No 10 jersey.

Is the rise of this outstanding generation because of the Saints’ culture, or is it luck?

“It's a mix of each,” says Dowson. “I’d credit an ex-coach, who gave them opportunities, and we had challenging moments. But the practice they had as a group is certainly one of the causes they are so close-knit and so talented.”

Dowson also cites his predecessor, another predecessor at their stadium, as a major influence. “I was lucky to be coached by really interesting personalities,” he notes. “He had a major effect on my career, my coaching, how I interact with individuals.”

The team execute appealing football, which was clearly evident in the case of their new signing. The Gallic player was involved with the French club beaten in the European competition in the spring when Tommy Freeman scored a triple. Belleau admired the style enough to buck the pattern of English talent joining Top 14 sides.

“An associate rang me and stated: ‘There’s a French 10 who’s in search of a team,’” Dowson says. “I replied: ‘There's no funds for a imported playmaker. Thomas Ramos will have to wait.’

‘He desires new challenges, for the chance to test himself,’ my friend informed me. That caught my attention. We spoke to Belleau and his English was outstanding, he was eloquent, he had a sense of humour.

“We questioned: ‘What do you want from this?’ He answered to be guided, to be driven, to be in a new environment and away from the Top 14. I was saying: ‘Welcome aboard, you’re a legend of a man.’ And he turned out to be. We’re fortunate to have him.”

Dowson says the emerging Pollock provides a specific energy. Has he encountered anyone like him? “Never,” Dowson responds. “Each person is original but Henry is unusual and remarkable in numerous aspects. He’s not afraid to be who he is.”

Pollock’s sensational score against Leinster previously demonstrated his freakish skill, but some of his animated on-field behavior have brought claims of cockiness.

“On occasion comes across as arrogant in his conduct, but he’s the opposite,” Dowson asserts. “Furthermore Pollock is not joking around the whole time. Game-wise he has input – he’s no fool. I feel sometimes it’s depicted that he’s merely a joker. But he’s bright and a positive influence within the team.”

Not many directors of rugby would claim to have enjoying a tight friendship with a colleague, but that is how Dowson describes his partnership with Sam Vesty.

“We both share an inquisitiveness regarding different things,” he notes. “We maintain a literary circle. He desires to explore various elements, seeks to understand all there is, desires to try new experiences, and I think I’m the similar.

“We converse on many things away from the sport: films, books, ideas, culture. When we played Stade [Français] in the past season, Notre-Dame was under renovation, so we had a quick look.”

Another date in the French nation is coming up: The Saints' comeback with the English competition will be brief because the continental event takes over next week. The French side, in the foothills of the mountain range, are the initial challenge on matchday before the South African team travel to a week later.

“I’m not going to be presumptuous sufficiently to {