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

This English town may not be the most exotic destination globally, but its squad delivers plenty of thrills and drama.

In a city known for footwear manufacturing, you might expect kicking to be the Saints’ primary strategy. Yet under head coach Phil Dowson, the squad in their distinctive colors prefer to keep ball in hand.

Although representing a quintessentially English location, they showcase a style typical of the best French practitioners of champagne rugby.

After Dowson and the head coach Sam Vesty stepped up in 2022, Northampton have claimed victory in the English top flight and advanced far in the Champions Cup – beaten by their Gallic opponents in the previous campaign's decider and ousted by Dublin-based club in a last-four clash earlier.

They currently top the competition ladder after multiple successes and a single stalemate and head to Bristol on the weekend as the only unbeaten side, seeking a first win at Ashton Gate since 2021.

It would be typical to think Dowson, who featured in 262 top-flight matches for various teams altogether, always planned to be a trainer.

“During my career, I didn't really think about it,” he remarks. “But as you age, you comprehend how much you love the sport, and what the normal employment is like. I spent some time at a financial institution doing a trial period. You make the journey a multiple instances, and it was tough – you see what you possess and lack.”

Conversations with Dusty Hare and Jim Mallinder culminated in a job at the Saints. Fast-forward several seasons and Dowson manages a team increasingly packed with national team players: Tommy Freeman, Fraser Dingwall, Alex Mitchell and Alex Coles started for England facing the the Kiwis two weeks ago.

Henry Pollock also had a profound impact as a substitute in the national team's successful series while the number ten, in time, will assume the No 10 jersey.

Is the rise of this exceptional cohort due to the club's environment, or is it luck?

“This is a mix of each,” says Dowson. “I’d credit the former director of rugby, who basically just threw them in, and we had difficult periods. But the practice they had as a unit is undoubtedly one of the causes they are so tight and so skilled.”

Dowson also mentions Mallinder, a former boss at their stadium, as a major influence. “I’ve been fortunate to be coached by highly engaging people,” he says. “Mallinder had a significant influence on my rugby life, my coaching, how I manage others.”

Saints execute entertaining the game, which became obvious in the case of Anthony Belleau. The Frenchman was involved with the French club defeated in the European competition in April when Freeman scored a hat-trick. He liked what he saw sufficiently to buck the pattern of English talent moving to France.

“An associate phoned me and stated: ‘We know of a French 10 who’s in search of a team,’” Dowson recalls. “My response was: ‘There's no budget for a French fly-half. Thomas Ramos will have to wait.’

‘He desires a fresh start, for the opportunity to test himself,’ my friend said. That intrigued us. We met with Belleau and his language skills was incredible, he was well-spoken, he had a funny side.

“We asked: ‘What do you want from this?’ He said to be guided, to be driven, to be outside his comfort zone and away from the French league. I was saying: ‘Welcome aboard, you’re a fantastic individual.’ And he turned out to be. We’re lucky to have him.”

Dowson states the young the flanker provides a particular energy. Does he know an individual comparable? “Never,” Dowson answers. “Each person is original but Pollock is different and unique in multiple respects. He’s unafraid to be authentic.”

The player's spectacular touchdown against Leinster in the past campaign demonstrated his freakish ability, but some of his animated on-field behavior have brought allegations of cockiness.

“On occasion seems cocky in his conduct, but he’s the opposite,” Dowson says. “Furthermore he's being serious constantly. Tactically he has input – he’s a smart player. I feel on occasion it’s shown that he’s just this idiot. But he’s bright and great to have in the squad.”

Few directors of rugby would describe themselves as sharing a close bond with a head coach, but that is how Dowson describes his partnership with his co-coach.

“Together have an inquisitiveness about diverse subjects,” he explains. “We run a literary circle. He wants to see all aspects, seeks to understand everything, aims to encounter different things, and I think I’m the alike.

“We converse on numerous subjects beyond the game: movies, reading, concepts, art. When we played our French rivals last year, the landmark was under renovation, so we had a little wander around.”

One more match in the French nation is looming: Northampton’s return with the domestic league will be short-lived because the Champions Cup intervenes shortly. Pau, in the vicinity of the Pyrenees, are the initial challenge on matchday before the Pretoria-based club arrive at soon after.

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