🔗 Share this article

This English town isn't exactly the most tropical spot in the world, but its rugby union team delivers plenty of romance and adventure.

In a city famous for shoe production, you might expect boot work to be the Saints’ main approach. However under head coach Phil Dowson, the side in the club's hues opt to run with the ball.

Despite playing for a typically British community, they display a style synonymous with the greatest Gallic exponents of champagne rugby.

After Dowson and the head coach Sam Vesty took over in 2022, the Saints have won the Premiership and gone deep in the European competition – beaten by their Gallic opponents in the ultimate match and knocked out by Leinster in a penultimate round earlier.

They currently top the competition ladder after multiple successes and a single stalemate and travel to Bristol on the weekend as the just one without a loss, seeking a initial success at Ashton Gate since 2021.

It would be typical to think Dowson, who participated in 262 premier fixtures for multiple clubs combined, had long intended to be a manager.

“During my career, I never seriously considered it,” he states. “But as you get older, you realise how much you appreciate the rugby, and what the everyday life entails. I worked briefly at a financial institution doing a trial period. You do the commute a few times, and it was tough – you grasp what you do and don’t have.”

Talks with former mentors led to a job at the Saints. Fast-forward eight years and Dowson manages a team ever more packed with national team players: Tommy Freeman, Fraser Dingwall, Alex Mitchell and Alex Coles started for the Red Rose versus the the Kiwis two weeks ago.

The young flanker also had a significant influence as a substitute in England’s perfect autumn while Fin Smith, eventually, will take over the fly-half role.

Is the emergence of this exceptional group due to the team's ethos, or is it fortune?

“This is a combination of the two,” states Dowson. “I’d credit Chris Boyd, who thrust them into action, and we had challenging moments. But the practice they had as a group is definitely one of the causes they are so tight and so gifted.”

Dowson also namechecks Mallinder, another predecessor at Franklin’s Gardens, as a major influence. “I was lucky to be guided by exceptionally insightful people,” he notes. “Jim had a big impact on my professional journey, my coaching, how I manage individuals.”

The team execute appealing the game, which was clearly evident in the example of the French fly-half. The import was involved with the French club overcome in the European competition in the spring when Tommy Freeman registered a hat-trick. He was impressed enough to reverse the trend of British stars joining Top 14 sides.

“A friend rang me and said: ‘There’s a French 10 who’s looking for a team,’” Dowson explains. “I said: ‘We lack the money for a overseas star. Another target will have to wait.’

‘He’s looking for experience, for the possibility to prove his worth,’ my mate informed me. That intrigued us. We met with Anthony and his English was outstanding, he was eloquent, he had a sense of humour.

“We questioned: ‘What do you want from this?’ He responded to be guided, to be driven, to be outside his comfort zone and outside the French league. I was like: ‘Join us, you’re a great person.’ And he turned out to be. We’re fortunate to have him.”

Dowson states the 20-year-old Pollock provides a particular energy. Has he coached anyone like him? “No,” Dowson answers. “All players are original but Pollock is unusual and remarkable in numerous aspects. He’s not afraid to be authentic.”

Pollock’s spectacular try against their opponents in the past campaign showcased his exceptional ability, but some of his animated in-game actions have led to accusations of cockiness.

“He sometimes comes across as arrogant in his actions, but he’s the opposite,” Dowson asserts. “Plus Pollock is being serious the whole time. Game-wise he has contributions – he’s no fool. I feel at times it’s depicted that he’s only a character. But he’s bright and great to have within the team.”

Few coaches would admit to sharing a close bond with a head coach, but that is how Dowson describes his partnership with Vesty.

“Together possess an interest regarding different things,” he explains. “We run a literary circle. He desires to explore everything, aims to learn everything, desires to try different things, and I feel like I’m the same.

“We converse on numerous things outside rugby: cinema, literature, thoughts, art. When we played Stade [Français] last year, Notre-Dame was under renovation, so we had a quick look.”

Another fixture in Gall is approaching: The Saints' comeback with the English competition will be brief because the Champions Cup takes over shortly. Their next opponents, in the foothills of the Pyrenees, are up first on the coming weekend before the Bulls visit the following weekend.

“I won't be presumptuous to the extent to {