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This English town isn't exactly the most tropical location in the world, but its squad provides a great deal of excitement and passion.

In a place known for footwear manufacturing, you would think kicking to be the Northampton's modus operandi. Yet under head coach Phil Dowson, the squad in their distinctive colors opt to keep ball in hand.

Despite playing for a quintessentially English location, they display a style associated with the best Gallic exponents of expansive play.

From the time Dowson and his colleague Sam Vesty assumed control in 2022, the Saints have claimed victory in the English top flight and progressed well in the continental tournament – losing to Bordeaux-Bègles in last season’s final and eliminated by Dublin-based club in a semi-final earlier.

They lead the league standings after a series of victories and one tie and head to their West Country rivals on Saturday as the sole undefeated team, seeking a first win at their opponent's ground since 2021.

It would be expected to think Dowson, who played 262 top-flight matches for various teams altogether, always planned to be a coach.

“When I played, I hadn't given it much thought,” he says. “But as you get older, you understand how much you enjoy the sport, and what the real world looks like. I spent some time at a banking firm doing work experience. You make the journey a multiple instances, and it was challenging – you see what you possess and lack.”

Discussions with club legends culminated in a job at the Saints. Move forward several seasons and Dowson leads a squad progressively filled with internationals: Tommy Freeman, Fraser Dingwall, Alex Mitchell and Alex Coles started for the national side versus the the Kiwis two weeks ago.

An emerging talent also had a major effect from the replacements in England’s flawless campaign while the fly-half, in time, will assume the pivotal position.

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

“It's a combination of the two,” states Dowson. “I’d credit the former director of rugby, who gave them opportunities, and we had challenging moments. But the exposure they had as a group is definitely one of the causes they are so united and so skilled.”

Dowson also cites his predecessor, an earlier coach at Franklin’s Gardens, as a significant mentor. “It was my good fortune to be coached by really interesting individuals,” he notes. “He had a big impact on my professional journey, my coaching, how I deal with people.”

The team execute appealing football, which became obvious in the case of Anthony Belleau. The Frenchman was part of the French club beaten in the continental tournament in April when the winger registered a three tries. Belleau admired the style enough to buck the pattern of English talent moving to France.

“A friend called me and remarked: ‘We know of a French 10 who’s looking for a club,’” Dowson says. “I said: ‘We lack the funds for a imported playmaker. Another target will have to wait.’

‘He wants new challenges, for the possibility to test himself,’ my friend said. That interested me. We met with him and his communication was excellent, he was articulate, he had a witty personality.

“We asked: ‘What do you want from this?’ He responded to be coached, to be challenged, to be in a new environment and beyond the French league. I was thinking: ‘Come on in, you’re a fantastic individual.’ And he turned out to be. We’re lucky to have him.”

Dowson comments the emerging the flanker provides a particular vitality. Has he encountered a player like him? “Never,” Dowson responds. “All players are individual but he is unusual and remarkable in many ways. He’s not afraid to be who he is.”

His sensational touchdown against their opponents last season demonstrated his exceptional talent, but some of his expressive in-game actions have resulted in accusations of arrogance.

“At times seems cocky in his actions, but he’s far from it,” Dowson clarifies. “Furthermore he's not taking the piss all the time. In terms of strategy he has ideas – he’s no fool. I feel sometimes it’s depicted that he’s only a character. But he’s intelligent and great to have within the team.”

Hardly any coaches would describe themselves as sharing a close bond with a assistant, but that is how Dowson describes his connection with Sam Vesty.

“We both share an inquisitiveness around different things,” he says. “We run a reading group. He aims to discover all aspects, seeks to understand all there is, desires to try varied activities, and I think I’m the alike.

“We discuss numerous things outside the game: movies, books, concepts, culture. When we played our French rivals in the past season, Notre-Dame was undergoing restoration, so we had a brief exploration.”

Another match in Gall is looming: Northampton’s reacquaintance with the Prem will be temporary because the European tournament intervenes soon. The French side, in the foothills of the border region, are the initial challenge on the coming weekend before the Bulls visit soon after.

“I refuse to be overconfident enough to {