Saints Coach Phil Dowson: ‘I Tried Working for a Bank – It Was Tough’
Northampton is hardly the most exotic spot globally, but its club delivers a great deal of thrills and drama.
In a place known for boot‑making, you might expect boot work to be the Saints’ primary strategy. Yet under the director of rugby Phil Dowson, the side in green, black and gold prefer to run with the ball.
Despite playing for a distinctly UK town, they display a flair synonymous with the finest French practitioners of expansive play.
After Dowson and his colleague Sam Vesty assumed control in 2022, Northampton have secured the Premiership and progressed well in the European competition – beaten by their Gallic opponents in the ultimate match and knocked out by Dublin-based club in a semi-final previously.
They sit atop the league standings after four wins and a draw and travel to Bristol on Saturday as the just one without a loss, chasing a first win at Bristol's home since 2021.
It would be expected to think Dowson, who participated in 262 premier matches for various teams in total, consistently aimed to be a coach.
“During my career, I didn't really think about it,” he remarks. “Yet as you mature, you understand how much you appreciate the sport, and what the normal employment looks like. I spent some time at Metro Bank doing an internship. You travel to work a multiple instances, and it was challenging – you realise what you possess and lack.”
Talks with club legends culminated in a role at Northampton. Move forward eight years and Dowson manages a squad progressively crammed with internationals: Tommy Freeman, Fraser Dingwall, Alex Mitchell and Alex Coles started for the national side against the All Blacks two weeks ago.
Henry Pollock also had a significant influence off the bench in England’s successful series while Fin Smith, down the line, will inherit the fly-half role.
Is the emergence of this outstanding generation because of the club's environment, or is it chance?
“This is a combination of the two,” comments Dowson. “My thanks go to an ex-coach, who basically just threw them in, and we had some tough days. But the practice they had as a unit is definitely one of the reasons they are so united and so talented.”
Dowson also mentions Jim Mallinder, a former boss at the club's home, as a significant mentor. “It was my good fortune to be guided by exceptionally insightful individuals,” he notes. “Mallinder had a significant influence on my professional journey, my training methods, how I deal with others.”
Saints execute entertaining football, which became obvious in the example of their new signing. The import was a member of the Clermont XV beaten in the European competition in last season when the winger notched a three tries. Belleau was impressed enough to buck the pattern of English talent moving to France.
“A mate phoned me and said: ‘We know of a Gallic number ten who’s seeking a side,’” Dowson says. “I replied: ‘There's no budget for a imported playmaker. Another target will have to wait.’
‘He wants experience, for the chance to challenge himself,’ my contact informed me. That interested me. We met with him and his communication was outstanding, he was eloquent, he had a witty personality.
“We questioned: ‘What are you seeking from this?’ He answered to be guided, to be pushed, to be facing unfamiliar situations and outside the domestic competition. I was like: ‘Come on in, you’re a fantastic individual.’ And he proved to be. We’re blessed to have him.”
Dowson says the 20-year-old the flanker offers a unique vitality. Has he coached a player like him? “Not really,” Dowson answers. “All players are individual but Pollock is unusual and remarkable in multiple respects. He’s not afraid to be who he is.”
Pollock’s breathtaking touchdown against Leinster previously illustrated his exceptional skill, but various his demonstrative on-field antics have brought allegations of cockiness.
“On occasion seems overconfident in his conduct, but he’s the opposite,” Dowson asserts. “Furthermore Henry’s not joking around all the time. In terms of strategy he has ideas – he’s a smart player. I believe at times it’s depicted that he’s only a character. But he’s bright and great to have in the squad.”
Hardly any directors of rugby would claim to have enjoying a tight friendship with a colleague, but that is how Dowson characterizes his connection with Sam Vesty.
“We both possess an inquisitiveness around various topics,” he explains. “We maintain a reading group. He wants to see all aspects, seeks to understand everything, wants to experience different things, and I believe I’m the similar.
“We talk about many subjects outside rugby: films, literature, thoughts, creativity. When we faced our French rivals last year, the cathedral was undergoing restoration, so we had a little wander around.”
A further fixture in Gall is looming: The Saints' comeback with the domestic league will be temporary because the continental event takes over next week. Their next opponents, in the foothills of the Pyrenees, are up first on the coming weekend before the South African team visit soon after.
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