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This English town may not be the most exotic destination in the world, but its rugby union team delivers plenty of excitement and passion.

In a city renowned for footwear manufacturing, you might expect boot work to be the Northampton's main approach. However under head coach Phil Dowson, the side in their distinctive colors choose to keep ball in hand.

Despite representing a distinctly UK community, they display a panache synonymous with the finest Gallic masters of attacking rugby.

After Dowson and the head coach Sam Vesty took over in 2022, the Saints have claimed victory in the domestic league and gone deep in the continental tournament – beaten by their Gallic opponents in the previous campaign's decider and ousted by Leinster in a penultimate round previously.

They lead the competition ladder after multiple successes and a single stalemate and travel to Ashton Gate on Saturday as the sole undefeated team, seeking a initial success at Ashton Gate since 2021.

It would be typical to think Dowson, who played 262 top-flight games for Newcastle, Northampton and Worcester combined, consistently aimed to be a trainer.

“As a professional, I hadn't given it much thought,” he says. “However as you get older, you understand how much you love the sport, and what the normal employment looks like. I had a stint at a financial institution doing work experience. You make the journey a multiple instances, and it was tough – you see what you have going for you.”

Discussions with Dusty Hare and Jim Mallinder resulted in a role at Northampton. Move forward eight years and Dowson leads a squad increasingly packed with national team players: prominent figures were selected for England against the the Kiwis two weeks ago.

Henry Pollock also had a significant influence off the bench in England’s perfect autumn while the fly-half, eventually, will assume the fly-half role.

Is the development of this remarkable group attributable to the team's ethos, or is it fortune?

“It's a mix of each,” says Dowson. “My thanks go to an ex-coach, who basically just threw them in, and we had difficult periods. But the practice they had as a group is certainly one of the causes they are so united and so talented.”

Dowson also namechecks Jim Mallinder, an earlier coach at their stadium, as a key figure. “I’ve been fortunate to be coached by exceptionally insightful individuals,” he notes. “He had a significant influence on my rugby life, my coaching, how I manage people.”

Saints execute entertaining rugby, which became obvious in the example of the French fly-half. The import was a member of the opposing team defeated in the European competition in the spring when Tommy Freeman registered a triple. Belleau admired the style enough to buck the pattern of British stars moving to France.

“An associate phoned me and said: ‘We've found a Gallic number ten who’s seeking a side,’” Dowson explains. “My response was: ‘We don’t have funds for a French fly-half. Another target will have to wait.’

‘He desires experience, for the opportunity to prove his worth,’ my friend informed me. That intrigued us. We spoke to him and his communication was excellent, he was articulate, he had a witty personality.

“We asked: ‘What are your goals from this?’ He said to be trained, to be challenged, to be facing unfamiliar situations and beyond the Top 14. I was like: ‘Join us, you’re a legend of a man.’ And he proved to be. We’re fortunate to have him.”

Dowson comments the emerging Pollock provides a unique energy. Has he coached anyone similar? “No,” Dowson responds. “Each person is unique but he is different and unique in multiple respects. He’s not afraid to be authentic.”

Pollock’s sensational touchdown against Leinster last season illustrated his freakish skill, but various his animated in-game antics have brought claims of arrogance.

“On occasion appears arrogant in his behavior, but he’s not,” Dowson asserts. “And Henry’s not taking the piss the whole time. Game-wise he has ideas – he’s not a clown. I feel sometimes it’s portrayed that he’s just this idiot. But he’s bright and good fun in the squad.”

Hardly any directors of rugby would claim to have sharing a close bond with a colleague, but that is how Dowson describes his relationship with his co-coach.

“Sam and I have an interest regarding diverse subjects,” he notes. “We maintain a reading group. He aims to discover everything, aims to learn each detail, wants to experience different things, and I feel like I’m the alike.

“We talk about many subjects outside the game: cinema, books, ideas, art. When we played Stade [Français] previously, the landmark was undergoing restoration, so we had a quick look.”

One more match in the French nation is approaching: Northampton’s reacquaintance with the English competition will be temporary because the Champions Cup kicks in soon. The French side, in the shadow of the mountain range, are the initial challenge on matchday before the Pretoria-based club visit a week later.

“I won't be presumptuous enough to {