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This English town is hardly the most glamorous location globally, but its club offers a great deal of excitement and passion.

In a city known for footwear manufacturing, you could anticipate kicking to be the Northampton's main approach. Yet under leader Phil Dowson, the squad in their distinctive colors opt to retain possession.

Although embodying a quintessentially English town, they display a panache associated with the greatest Gallic exponents of champagne rugby.

Since Dowson and his colleague Sam Vesty stepped up in 2022, Northampton have secured the English top flight and advanced far in the European competition – defeated by their Gallic opponents in the ultimate match and knocked out by the Irish province in a penultimate round before that.

They currently top the competition ladder after multiple successes and a single stalemate and head to Ashton Gate on matchday as the only unbeaten side, seeking a maiden victory at their opponent's ground since 2021.

It would be typical to think Dowson, who featured in 262 premier fixtures for multiple clubs combined, consistently aimed to be a trainer.

“As a professional, I didn't really think about it,” he remarks. “But as you age, you realise how much you enjoy the sport, and what the real world looks like. I spent some time at a financial institution doing a trial period. You travel to work a few times, and it was tough – you realise what you do and don’t have.”

Discussions with former mentors resulted in a job at the Saints. Jump ahead several seasons and Dowson manages a roster ever more crammed with global stars: prominent figures started for England facing the All Blacks two weeks ago.

An emerging talent also had a profound impact as a substitute in England’s successful series while the number ten, eventually, will inherit the No 10 jersey.

Is the development of this exceptional generation because of the team's ethos, or is it fortune?

“It is a bit of both,” states Dowson. “I’d credit the former director of rugby, who gave them opportunities, and we had some tough days. But the exposure they had as a group is undoubtedly one of the reasons they are so tight and so talented.”

Dowson also mentions Jim Mallinder, another predecessor at the club's home, as a key figure. “I’ve been fortunate to be coached by highly engaging people,” he adds. “He had a major effect on my professional journey, my training methods, how I interact with people.”

Saints play attractive rugby, which became obvious in the case of the French fly-half. The Frenchman was part of the Clermont XV defeated in the European competition in last season when Freeman notched a hat-trick. Belleau was impressed sufficiently to buck the pattern of UK players moving to France.

“An associate phoned me and said: ‘We've found a Gallic number ten who’s looking for a team,’” Dowson explains. “I replied: ‘We lack the money for a imported playmaker. A different option will have to wait.’

‘He’s looking for a fresh start, for the opportunity to prove his worth,’ my mate said. That interested me. We met with him and his English was incredible, he was well-spoken, he had a sense of humour.

“We questioned: ‘What do you want from this?’ He responded to be coached, to be challenged, to be facing unfamiliar situations and away from the Top 14. I was like: ‘Come on in, you’re a great person.’ And he proved to be. We’re blessed to have him.”

Dowson says the emerging Henry Pollock brings a specific enthusiasm. Has he encountered a player similar? “Not really,” Dowson answers. “All players are individual but Pollock is unusual and remarkable in multiple respects. He’s fearless to be himself.”

Pollock’s sensational try against their opponents last season demonstrated his exceptional skill, but various his expressive in-game antics have resulted in allegations of arrogance.

“At times appears arrogant in his behavior, but he’s not,” Dowson says. “And he's not joking around the whole time. Tactically he has input – he’s no fool. I believe on occasion it’s portrayed that he’s just this idiot. But he’s intelligent and a positive influence to have around.”

Hardly any coaches would describe themselves as enjoying a tight friendship with a head coach, but that is how Dowson frames his relationship with Sam Vesty.

“We both share an interest about different things,” he says. “We have a literary circle. He wants to see everything, wants to know each detail, wants to experience new experiences, and I think I’m the same.

“We converse on many subjects beyond rugby: films, books, ideas, creativity. When we played the Parisian club last year, Notre-Dame was under renovation, so we had a quick look.”

One more fixture in the French nation is coming up: Northampton’s reacquaintance with the English competition will be brief because the European tournament intervenes next week. Pau, in the vicinity of the border region, are the initial challenge on the coming weekend before the Pretoria-based club arrive at a week later.

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