Northampton Director of Rugby Phil Dowson: ‘I Tried Working for a Bank – It Was Tough’
This English town is hardly the most exotic spot in the world, but its rugby union team delivers a great deal of thrills and drama.
In a town renowned for shoe production, you might expect boot work to be the Northampton's main approach. But under leader Phil Dowson, the side in the club's hues choose to run with the ball.
Even though embodying a quintessentially English location, they showcase a style typical of the finest French exponents of champagne rugby.
After Dowson and fellow coach Sam Vesty stepped up in 2022, Northampton have secured the Premiership and gone deep in the Champions Cup – losing to Bordeaux-Bègles in the ultimate match and ousted by Leinster in a penultimate round previously.
They lead the league standings after a series of victories and one tie and head to Bristol on matchday as the just one without a loss, seeking a maiden victory at their opponent's ground since 2021.
It would be expected to think Dowson, who participated in 262 elite matches for Newcastle, Northampton and Worcester combined, consistently aimed to be a trainer.
“As a professional, I never seriously considered it,” he says. “However as you age, you comprehend how much you enjoy the rugby, and what the everyday life looks like. I worked briefly at a banking firm doing a trial period. You travel to work a multiple instances, and it was tough – you grasp what you have going for you.”
Conversations with club legends led to a job at the Saints. Move forward a decade and Dowson guides a squad progressively filled with internationals: key individuals started for the national side facing the New Zealand two weeks ago.
Henry Pollock also had a profound impact from the replacements in England’s flawless campaign while Fin Smith, eventually, will assume the No 10 jersey.
Is the rise of this remarkable cohort attributable to the team's ethos, or is it luck?
“This is a combination of the two,” comments Dowson. “My thanks go to Chris Boyd, who gave them opportunities, and we had some tough days. But the exposure they had as a collective is definitely one of the reasons they are so united and so gifted.”
Dowson also cites Jim Mallinder, another predecessor at the club's home, as a key figure. “It was my good fortune to be mentored by really interesting personalities,” he adds. “He had a big impact on my career, my coaching, how I manage others.”
The team execute appealing the game, which became obvious in the instance of the French fly-half. The Frenchman was part of the French club overcome in the Champions Cup in the spring when the winger registered a three tries. Belleau admired the style to such an extent to buck the pattern of English talent heading across the Channel.
“A friend phoned me and remarked: ‘There’s a French 10 who’s seeking a side,’” Dowson says. “My response was: ‘We don’t have money for a French fly-half. Thomas Ramos will have to wait.’
‘He desires experience, for the possibility to test himself,’ my contact told me. That caught my attention. We spoke to Anthony and his English was outstanding, he was eloquent, he had a witty personality.
“We asked: ‘What do you want from this?’ He responded to be guided, to be driven, to be in a new environment and away from the domestic competition. I was like: ‘Welcome aboard, you’re a great person.’ And he has been. We’re lucky to have him.”
Dowson comments the young Pollock brings a specific enthusiasm. Has he coached a player similar? “Never,” Dowson answers. “All players are individual but he is unusual and remarkable in many ways. He’s not afraid to be who he is.”
The player's spectacular score against their opponents last season demonstrated his unusual skill, but various his animated in-game behavior have led to claims of overconfidence.
“At times seems overconfident in his behavior, but he’s not,” Dowson clarifies. “And Pollock is not joking around all the time. Game-wise he has input – he’s not a clown. I think on occasion it’s portrayed that he’s just this idiot. But he’s clever and great to have within the team.”
Not many managers would describe themselves as enjoying a tight friendship with a assistant, but that is how Dowson characterizes his connection with Vesty.
“Together possess an curiosity around diverse subjects,” he says. “We have a book club. He aims to discover everything, aims to learn all there is, aims to encounter varied activities, and I feel like I’m the same.
“We talk about numerous subjects outside rugby: films, literature, thoughts, art. When we met our French rivals in the past season, Notre-Dame was undergoing restoration, so we had a quick look.”
Another match in the French nation is looming: The Saints' return with the English competition will be short-lived because the Champions Cup takes over shortly. Pau, in the shadow of the mountain range, are up first on matchday before the Pretoria-based club travel to a week later.
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