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This English town is hardly the most tropical location on the planet, but its squad delivers an abundance of romance and adventure.

In a place famous for boot‑making, you could anticipate boot work to be the Northampton's main approach. However under leader Phil Dowson, the squad in green, black and gold choose to keep ball in hand.

Despite playing for a typically British town, they display a style synonymous with the best Gallic practitioners of champagne rugby.

From the time Dowson and the head coach Sam Vesty took over in 2022, Northampton have secured the Premiership and gone deep in the Champions Cup – defeated by a French side in the previous campaign's decider and eliminated by the Irish province in a penultimate round before that.

They lead the Prem table after a series of victories and one tie and visit Bristol on the weekend as the only unbeaten side, chasing a first win at Ashton Gate since 2021.

It would be natural to think Dowson, who featured in 262 top-flight fixtures for multiple clubs altogether, consistently aimed to be a coach.

“During my career, I never seriously considered it,” he states. “However as you age, you understand how much you love the rugby, and what the real world entails. I spent some time at a financial institution doing a trial period. You do the commute a several occasions, and it was tough – you see what you do and don’t have.”

Talks with Dusty Hare and Jim Mallinder resulted in a role at the Saints. Fast-forward several seasons and Dowson leads a team ever more filled with internationals: prominent figures were selected for England against the the Kiwis two weeks ago.

Henry Pollock also had a profound impact off the bench in the national team's successful series while the fly-half, down the line, will inherit the pivotal position.

Is the emergence of this exceptional generation attributable to the Saints’ culture, or is it chance?

“It's a bit of both,” comments Dowson. “My thanks go to the former director of rugby, who gave them opportunities, and we had some tough days. But the experience they had as a group is definitely one of the causes they are so tight and so talented.”

Dowson also mentions Mallinder, another predecessor at their stadium, as a key figure. “I’ve been fortunate to be mentored by highly engaging people,” he adds. “He had a major effect on my professional journey, my management style, how I deal with people.”

The team execute attractive rugby, which proved literally true in the instance of the French fly-half. The Frenchman was involved with the Clermont XV defeated in the continental tournament in the spring when Tommy Freeman registered a hat-trick. He admired the style to such an extent to buck the pattern of English talent moving to France.

“An associate rang me and remarked: ‘We've found a French 10 who’s seeking a side,’” Dowson says. “My response was: ‘We don’t have money for a imported playmaker. Another target will have to wait.’

‘He desires new challenges, for the possibility to test himself,’ my mate said. That caught my attention. We had a conversation with Anthony and his English was excellent, he was well-spoken, he had a funny side.

“We inquired: ‘What do you want from this?’ He answered to be coached, to be driven, to be facing unfamiliar situations and beyond the French league. I was like: ‘Welcome aboard, you’re a fantastic individual.’ And he turned out to be. We’re blessed to have him.”

Dowson says the young the flanker provides a unique vitality. Has he encountered an individual like him? “Not really,” Dowson replies. “All players are individual but Henry is unusual and remarkable in many ways. He’s fearless to be himself.”

Pollock’s sensational touchdown against Leinster in the past campaign showcased his unusual talent, but some of his demonstrative in-game behavior have resulted in accusations of arrogance.

“On occasion comes across as arrogant in his conduct, but he’s not,” Dowson clarifies. “Furthermore Pollock is not joking around all the time. Game-wise he has ideas – he’s no fool. I feel sometimes it’s shown that he’s merely a joker. But he’s clever and great to have to have around.”

Few directors of rugby would describe themselves as having a bromance with a head coach, but that is how Dowson characterizes his relationship with Sam Vesty.

“Together share an inquisitiveness about various topics,” he notes. “We maintain a reading group. He wants to see various elements, aims to learn everything, aims to encounter varied activities, and I believe I’m the similar.

“We converse on numerous subjects away from the game: cinema, reading, concepts, creativity. When we played our French rivals last year, the cathedral was undergoing restoration, so we had a quick look.”

One more fixture in France is coming up: Northampton’s reacquaintance with the Prem will be short-lived because the continental event takes over shortly. Pau, in the shadow of the border region, are the opening fixture on Sunday week before the Pretoria-based club travel to soon after.

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