Northampton Director of Rugby Phil Dowson: ‘I Tried Working for a Bank – It Was Tough’
Northampton may not be the most glamorous location on the planet, but its club offers an abundance of excitement and passion.
In a town famous for shoe production, you could anticipate boot work to be the Northampton's primary strategy. Yet under head coach Phil Dowson, the side in green, black and gold choose to keep ball in hand.
Although representing a quintessentially English town, they exhibit a style synonymous with the best French masters of attacking rugby.
After Dowson and fellow coach Sam Vesty took over in 2022, Northampton have secured the domestic league and progressed well in the continental tournament – defeated by their Gallic opponents in the ultimate match and ousted by Dublin-based club in a semi-final earlier.
They lead the Prem table after multiple successes and a single stalemate and head to Ashton Gate on matchday as the only unbeaten side, chasing a initial success at Bristol's home since 2021.
It would be expected to think Dowson, who participated in 262 elite fixtures for various teams altogether, had long intended to be a trainer.
“As a professional, I hadn't given it much thought,” he remarks. “But as you mature, you understand how much you appreciate the sport, and what the real world looks like. I worked briefly at a financial institution doing an internship. You do the commute a few times, and it was challenging – you see what you do and don’t have.”
Talks with Dusty Hare and Jim Mallinder resulted in a job at Northampton. Fast-forward eight years and Dowson manages a team increasingly crammed with national team players: prominent figures started for the national side versus the the Kiwis two weeks ago.
The young flanker also had a significant influence from the replacements in the national team's perfect autumn while the number ten, down the line, will assume the pivotal position.
Is the emergence of this remarkable group because of the team's ethos, or is it chance?
“It's a combination of the two,” says Dowson. “My thanks go to an ex-coach, who thrust them into action, and we had difficult periods. But the exposure they had as a unit is certainly one of the reasons they are so close-knit and so skilled.”
Dowson also mentions Mallinder, another predecessor at their stadium, as a significant mentor. “I’ve been fortunate to be coached by really interesting people,” he adds. “He had a significant influence on my rugby life, my management style, how I manage people.”
Northampton demonstrate appealing rugby, which became obvious in the instance of the French fly-half. The Gallic player was a member of the Clermont XV beaten in the European competition in the spring when the winger registered a triple. Belleau admired the style to such an extent to go against the flow of British stars moving to France.
“A friend called me and remarked: ‘We've found a fly-half from France who’s looking for a side,’” Dowson recalls. “My response was: ‘There's no funds for a overseas star. A different option will have to wait.’
‘He desires a fresh start, for the possibility to test himself,’ my contact said. That intrigued us. We had a conversation with him and his language skills was outstanding, he was eloquent, he had a witty personality.
“We inquired: ‘What are you seeking from this?’ He responded to be trained, to be pushed, to be in a new environment and outside the Top 14. I was saying: ‘Join us, you’re a legend of a man.’ And he proved to be. We’re fortunate to have him.”
Dowson states the emerging Pollock provides a unique energy. Has he coached an individual similar? “Not really,” Dowson answers. “Everyone’s original but Pollock is different and unique in many ways. He’s not afraid to be who he is.”
The player's sensational touchdown against their opponents previously demonstrated his unusual ability, but some of his animated on-field actions have resulted in claims of arrogance.
“He sometimes seems cocky in his actions, but he’s not,” Dowson says. “Plus Henry’s being serious the whole time. In terms of strategy he has ideas – he’s no fool. I feel at times it’s shown that he’s just this idiot. But he’s clever and a positive influence within the team.”
Hardly any directors of rugby would describe themselves as sharing a close bond with a head coach, but that is how Dowson frames his connection with Vesty.
“We both have an curiosity around different things,” he notes. “We maintain a book club. He desires to explore all aspects, wants to know each detail, wants to experience new experiences, and I believe I’m the alike.
“We converse on many subjects beyond the sport: movies, reading, ideas, art. When we met Stade [Français] last year, Notre-Dame was being done up, so we had a brief exploration.”
One more fixture in Gall is looming: The Saints' comeback with the English competition will be brief because the continental event intervenes shortly. The French side, in the shadow of the mountain range, are up first on matchday before the Bulls visit the following weekend.
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