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Northampton may not be the most glamorous destination in the world, but its squad offers an abundance of romance and adventure.

In a place famous for footwear manufacturing, you could anticipate kicking to be the Saints’ primary strategy. However under the director of rugby Phil Dowson, the squad in their distinctive colors choose to run with the ball.

Despite representing a distinctly UK community, they display a flair synonymous with the finest Gallic masters of expansive play.

From the time Dowson and his colleague Sam Vesty took over in 2022, Northampton have secured the English top flight and advanced far in the Champions Cup – beaten by Bordeaux-Bègles in the ultimate match and knocked out by the Irish province in a last-four clash before that.

They currently top the league standings after multiple successes and a single stalemate and head to Ashton Gate on matchday as the sole undefeated team, aiming for a first win at their opponent's ground since 2021.

It would be expected to think Dowson, who featured in 262 top-flight games for multiple clubs combined, consistently aimed to be a trainer.

“As a professional, I didn't really think about it,” he remarks. “Yet as you age, you comprehend how much you enjoy the game, and what the normal employment entails. I had a stint at Metro Bank doing an internship. You travel to work a multiple instances, and it was difficult – you see what you do and don’t have.”

Talks with Dusty Hare and Jim Mallinder resulted in a job at the Saints. Move forward eight years and Dowson guides a team progressively crammed with global stars: Tommy Freeman, Fraser Dingwall, Alex Mitchell and Alex Coles were selected for the national side versus the the Kiwis two weeks ago.

The young flanker also had a significant influence as a substitute in England’s flawless campaign while the number ten, eventually, will inherit the pivotal position.

Is the development of this exceptional cohort attributable to the club's environment, or is it fortune?

“It is a combination of the two,” says Dowson. “I’d credit the former director of rugby, who thrust them into action, and we had some tough days. But the experience they had as a group is undoubtedly one of the factors they are so close-knit and so gifted.”

Dowson also namechecks Jim Mallinder, another predecessor at Franklin’s Gardens, as a key figure. “It was my good fortune to be mentored by exceptionally insightful individuals,” he says. “He had a major effect on my career, my management style, how I interact with individuals.”

Northampton demonstrate attractive rugby, which proved literally true in the case of their new signing. The Gallic player was part of the opposing team defeated in the Champions Cup in the spring when the winger registered a three tries. Belleau was impressed enough to reverse the trend of UK players heading across the Channel.

“A friend called me and stated: ‘There’s a fly-half from France who’s looking for a club,’” Dowson explains. “My response was: ‘There's no funds for a imported playmaker. Thomas Ramos will have to wait.’

‘He desires a fresh start, for the possibility to challenge himself,’ my mate said. That intrigued us. We spoke to him and his English was outstanding, he was well-spoken, he had a witty personality.

“We inquired: ‘What do you want from this?’ He answered to be trained, to be challenged, to be facing unfamiliar situations and outside the French league. I was saying: ‘Join us, you’re a legend of a man.’ And he has been. We’re blessed to have him.”

Dowson says the emerging Pollock brings a particular enthusiasm. Does he know a player comparable? “Not really,” Dowson replies. “Everyone’s unique but he is distinct and special in numerous aspects. He’s fearless to be who he is.”

Pollock’s spectacular score against Leinster in the past campaign demonstrated his unusual skill, but various his expressive during matches antics have brought allegations of overconfidence.

“He sometimes appears overconfident in his behavior, but he’s far from it,” Dowson clarifies. “Furthermore he's being serious constantly. Tactically he has ideas – he’s no fool. I think sometimes it’s depicted that he’s only a character. But he’s clever and great to have in the squad.”

Not many directors of rugby would admit to enjoying a tight friendship with a assistant, but that is how Dowson describes his partnership with Vesty.

“We both share an curiosity about diverse subjects,” he explains. “We maintain a reading group. He desires to explore various elements, aims to learn everything, aims to encounter new experiences, and I think I’m the same.

“We discuss lots of topics outside the game: movies, books, thoughts, creativity. When we played Stade [Français] in the past season, the cathedral was undergoing restoration, so we had a little wander around.”

A further match in the French nation is coming up: Northampton’s reacquaintance with the English competition will be short-lived because the Champions Cup takes over shortly. Pau, in the vicinity of the mountain range, are the opening fixture on Sunday week before the Bulls arrive at soon after.

“I refuse to be overconfident sufficiently to {