Saints Coach Phil Dowson: ‘I Tried Working for a Bank – It Was Tough’
This English town isn't exactly the most exotic destination globally, but its club provides an abundance of thrills and drama.
In a city renowned for shoe production, you would think punting to be the Saints’ modus operandi. Yet under leader Phil Dowson, the squad in the club's hues prefer to run with the ball.
Even though playing for a typically British location, they exhibit a style synonymous with the finest French exponents of champagne rugby.
Since Dowson and fellow coach Sam Vesty took over in 2022, Northampton have secured the English top flight and advanced far in the European competition – defeated by a French side in last season’s final and knocked out by the Irish province in a penultimate round earlier.
They currently top the competition ladder after four wins and a draw and head to their West Country rivals on Saturday as the sole undefeated team, chasing a initial success at their opponent's ground since 2021.
It would be natural to think Dowson, who featured in 262 top-flight fixtures for multiple clubs in total, always planned to be a trainer.
“When I played, I didn't really think about it,” he states. “Yet as you age, you understand how much you appreciate the rugby, and what the real world looks like. I had a stint at Metro Bank doing work experience. You do the commute a multiple instances, and it was tough – you realise what you have going for you.”
Talks with Dusty Hare and Jim Mallinder led to a position at the Saints. Jump ahead several seasons and Dowson leads a team increasingly packed with national team players: Tommy Freeman, Fraser Dingwall, Alex Mitchell and Alex Coles lined up for the national side versus the All Blacks two weeks ago.
The young flanker also had a major effect off the bench in England’s successful series while the number ten, eventually, will inherit the pivotal position.
Is the development of this exceptional group because of the Saints’ culture, or is it chance?
“It is a combination of the two,” says Dowson. “My thanks go to the former director of rugby, who basically just threw them in, and we had difficult periods. But the exposure they had as a group is undoubtedly one of the factors they are so close-knit and so talented.”
Dowson also namechecks Jim Mallinder, another predecessor at the club's home, as a key figure. “I’ve been fortunate to be guided by highly engaging personalities,” he adds. “Mallinder had a major effect on my rugby life, my management style, how I interact with people.”
Northampton execute entertaining football, which became obvious in the example of their new signing. The Gallic player was a member of the Clermont XV overcome in the continental tournament in last season when Freeman notched a hat-trick. The player admired the style to such an extent to buck the pattern of UK players joining Top 14 sides.
“A mate rang me and said: ‘There’s a fly-half from France who’s looking for a club,’” Dowson says. “I said: ‘We lack the money for a imported playmaker. Thomas Ramos will have to wait.’
‘He’s looking for experience, for the chance to test himself,’ my mate said. That intrigued us. We had a conversation with him and his language skills was incredible, he was articulate, he had a sense of humour.
“We asked: ‘What are your goals from this?’ He responded to be coached, to be challenged, to be outside his comfort zone and away from the Top 14. I was saying: ‘Come on in, you’re a fantastic individual.’ And he turned out to be. We’re fortunate to have him.”
Dowson says the young the flanker brings a particular vitality. Has he coached a player comparable? “Not really,” Dowson answers. “All players are original but Henry is unusual and remarkable in many ways. He’s fearless to be authentic.”
His sensational try against their opponents in the past campaign illustrated his freakish ability, but some of his animated during matches behavior have led to claims of cockiness.
“On occasion seems overconfident in his actions, but he’s the opposite,” Dowson says. “Plus he's not taking the piss constantly. In terms of strategy he has ideas – he’s a smart player. I feel sometimes it’s portrayed that he’s just this idiot. But he’s clever and a positive influence within the team.”
Few managers would admit to having a bromance with a colleague, but that is how Dowson characterizes his partnership with his co-coach.
“Sam and I have an inquisitiveness about various topics,” he says. “We maintain a reading group. He wants to see everything, seeks to understand each detail, aims to encounter varied activities, and I feel like I’m the similar.
“We converse on many topics away from the sport: movies, books, concepts, culture. When we met the Parisian club last year, the cathedral was being done up, so we had a quick look.”
A further match in the French nation is coming up: Northampton’s comeback with the Prem will be short-lived because the continental event takes over next week. The French side, in the shadow of the mountain range, are the initial challenge on Sunday week before the Bulls visit soon after.
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