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This English town isn't exactly the most glamorous destination in the world, but its club delivers a great deal of excitement and passion.

In a town famous for footwear manufacturing, you could anticipate punting to be the Saints’ primary strategy. But under the director of rugby Phil Dowson, the team in green, black and gold choose to run with the ball.

Even though representing a distinctly UK location, they display a style associated with the best Gallic exponents of champagne rugby.

After Dowson and the head coach Sam Vesty stepped up in 2022, Northampton have secured the Premiership and progressed well in the European competition – beaten by a French side in the ultimate match and ousted by Dublin-based club in a semi-final before that.

They sit atop the Prem table after a series of victories and one tie and travel to their West Country rivals on Saturday as the just one without a loss, aiming for a initial success at their opponent's ground since 2021.

It would be natural to think Dowson, who participated in 262 top-flight games for multiple clubs combined, had long intended to be a coach.

“As a professional, I didn't really think about it,” he states. “However as you age, you understand how much you love the rugby, and what the real world entails. I had a stint at a banking firm doing work experience. You travel to work a few times, and it was challenging – you grasp what you do and don’t have.”

Conversations with former mentors resulted in a role at the Saints. Jump ahead a decade and Dowson leads a team progressively crammed with global stars: key individuals were selected for the national side facing the the Kiwis two weeks ago.

The young flanker also had a profound impact as a substitute in England’s perfect autumn while the fly-half, in time, will take over the fly-half role.

Is the development of this remarkable cohort because of the club's environment, or is it fortune?

“It's a mix of each,” comments Dowson. “I would acknowledge an ex-coach, who basically just threw them in, and we had some tough days. But the exposure they had as a collective is certainly one of the factors they are so close-knit and so skilled.”

Dowson also cites his predecessor, a former boss at their stadium, as a major influence. “I was lucky to be mentored by really interesting people,” he notes. “Mallinder had a major effect on my professional journey, my coaching, how I deal with individuals.”

Saints demonstrate attractive rugby, which proved literally true in the example of the French fly-half. The Gallic player was a member of the opposing team beaten in the continental tournament in April when the winger scored a hat-trick. Belleau liked what he saw sufficiently to buck the pattern of UK players moving to France.

“A friend called me and remarked: ‘We've found a French 10 who’s in search of a team,’” Dowson recalls. “My response was: ‘We don’t have funds for a imported playmaker. Thomas Ramos will have to wait.’

‘He desires a fresh start, for the possibility to challenge himself,’ my contact informed me. That interested me. We met with him and his language skills was excellent, he was well-spoken, he had a funny side.

“We questioned: ‘What do you want from this?’ He answered to be trained, to be driven, to be in a new environment and away from the French league. I was like: ‘Come on in, you’re a legend of a man.’ And he has been. We’re lucky to have him.”

Dowson states the 20-year-old Pollock offers a particular enthusiasm. Has he encountered a player comparable? “Never,” Dowson answers. “Each person is individual but Pollock is distinct and special in many ways. He’s not afraid to be who he is.”

The player's breathtaking score against Leinster in the past campaign illustrated his unusual ability, but a few of his demonstrative in-game antics have led to accusations of arrogance.

“At times comes across as cocky in his conduct, but he’s the opposite,” Dowson asserts. “Plus Henry’s not taking the piss all the time. Game-wise he has input – he’s a smart player. I think on occasion it’s depicted that he’s just this idiot. But he’s bright 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 describes his relationship with his co-coach.

“We both share an inquisitiveness regarding diverse subjects,” he explains. “We maintain a literary circle. He wants to see everything, aims to learn all there is, wants to experience new experiences, and I believe I’m the alike.

“We converse on many things outside rugby: films, reading, thoughts, art. When we played the Parisian club in the past season, the cathedral was under renovation, so we had a brief exploration.”

Another fixture in Gall is approaching: The Saints' comeback with the Prem will be short-lived because the continental event takes over shortly. Their next opponents, in the shadow of the mountain range, are up first on the coming weekend before the Bulls travel to a week later.

“I’m not going to be arrogant sufficiently to {