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This English town is hardly the most exotic location in the world, but its rugby union team provides plenty of romance and adventure.

In a town famous for footwear manufacturing, you would think boot work to be the Saints’ primary strategy. Yet under the director of rugby Phil Dowson, the squad in the club's hues opt to keep ball in hand.

Even though representing a quintessentially English location, they exhibit a style associated with the finest French masters of champagne rugby.

From the time Dowson and the head coach Sam Vesty stepped up in 2022, Northampton have claimed victory in the domestic league and progressed well in the Champions Cup – losing to their Gallic opponents in last season’s final and knocked out by Dublin-based club in a penultimate round previously.

They currently top the Prem table after a series of victories and one tie and visit their West Country rivals on Saturday as the only unbeaten side, aiming for a maiden victory at their opponent's ground since 2021.

It would be typical to think Dowson, who featured in 262 elite games for multiple clubs in total, had long intended to be a trainer.

“As a professional, I didn't really think about it,” he states. “But as you mature, you comprehend how much you love the sport, and what the real world looks like. I worked briefly at Metro Bank doing an internship. You travel to work a several occasions, and it was tough – you realise what you have going for you.”

Talks with Dusty Hare and Jim Mallinder led to a position at the Saints. Fast-forward a decade and Dowson leads a team ever more packed with internationals: prominent figures were selected for England facing the the Kiwis two weeks ago.

Henry Pollock also had a major effect as a substitute in England’s flawless campaign while the number ten, in time, will inherit the No 10 jersey.

Is the rise of this exceptional generation due to the team's ethos, or is it luck?

“This is a combination of the two,” comments Dowson. “I would acknowledge the former director of rugby, who thrust them into action, and we had some tough days. But the experience they had as a collective is undoubtedly one of the reasons they are so united and so skilled.”

Dowson also mentions Jim Mallinder, an earlier coach at Franklin’s Gardens, as a significant mentor. “I’ve been fortunate to be mentored by highly engaging people,” he notes. “Mallinder had a major effect on my professional journey, my coaching, how I deal with people.”

Saints demonstrate attractive football, which was clearly evident in the example of the French fly-half. The Gallic player was a member of the Clermont XV overcome in the continental tournament in April when Tommy Freeman registered a hat-trick. The player admired the style sufficiently to reverse the trend of British stars moving to France.

“A mate rang me and remarked: ‘We've found a French 10 who’s looking for a club,’” Dowson recalls. “My response was: ‘There's no budget for a overseas star. Another target will have to wait.’

‘He’s looking for a fresh start, for the opportunity to test himself,’ my mate told me. That intrigued us. We met with Belleau and his English was incredible, he was eloquent, he had a witty personality.

“We inquired: ‘What do you want from this?’ He responded to be trained, to be challenged, to be in a new environment and outside the French league. I was like: ‘Join us, you’re a great person.’ And he proved to be. We’re lucky to have him.”

Dowson comments the emerging the flanker brings a unique vitality. Has he encountered anyone comparable? “Not really,” Dowson answers. “Everyone’s individual but he is distinct and special in multiple respects. He’s not afraid to be who he is.”

The player's breathtaking try against Leinster last season illustrated his freakish skill, but some of his animated during matches behavior have resulted in accusations of arrogance.

“At times appears overconfident in his behavior, but he’s far from it,” Dowson asserts. “Furthermore Pollock is not joking around the whole time. Game-wise he has contributions – he’s no fool. I think at times it’s depicted that he’s just this idiot. But he’s clever and great to have in the squad.”

Not many managers would describe themselves as having a bromance with a assistant, but that is how Dowson frames his connection with Vesty.

“We both possess an interest around diverse subjects,” he says. “We have a reading group. He desires to explore everything, seeks to understand all there is, desires to try different things, and I think I’m the alike.

“We discuss lots of topics beyond the game: cinema, books, concepts, creativity. When we faced the Parisian club in the past season, Notre-Dame was undergoing restoration, so we had a brief exploration.”

A further date in France is approaching: Northampton’s comeback with the English competition will be brief because the Champions Cup kicks in next week. Pau, in the vicinity of the border region, are the opening fixture on the coming weekend before the South African team travel to soon after.

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