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This English town isn't exactly the most tropical destination globally, but its club offers an abundance of thrills and drama.

In a place known for shoe production, you would think kicking to be the Northampton's primary strategy. But under head coach Phil Dowson, the team in green, black and gold prefer to keep ball in hand.

Despite embodying a distinctly UK community, they showcase a style typical of the best French masters of champagne rugby.

From the time Dowson and his colleague Sam Vesty stepped up in 2022, Northampton have won the English top flight and progressed well in the European competition – losing to Bordeaux-Bègles in the ultimate match and ousted by Dublin-based club in a semi-final previously.

They sit atop the league standings after multiple successes and a single stalemate and travel to Bristol on the weekend as the just one without a loss, chasing a first win at Ashton Gate since 2021.

It would be typical to think Dowson, who played 262 top-flight matches for multiple clubs combined, always planned 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 sport, and what the normal employment entails. I worked briefly at Metro Bank doing an internship. You do the commute a few times, and it was difficult – you grasp what you do and don’t have.”

Discussions with club legends culminated in a job at Northampton. Move forward eight years and Dowson guides a team ever more packed with national team players: Tommy Freeman, Fraser Dingwall, Alex Mitchell and Alex Coles started for England facing the the Kiwis two weeks ago.

Henry Pollock also had a profound impact as a substitute in the national team's perfect autumn while the fly-half, eventually, will inherit the pivotal position.

Is the emergence of this exceptional group because of the Saints’ culture, or is it luck?

“This is a combination of the two,” states Dowson. “My thanks go to the former director of rugby, who basically just threw them in, and we had some tough days. But the practice they had as a unit is undoubtedly one of the factors they are so tight and so gifted.”

Dowson also cites Jim Mallinder, a former boss at Franklin’s Gardens, as a significant mentor. “I’ve been fortunate to be mentored by really interesting people,” he adds. “Jim had a big impact on my career, my training methods, how I deal with others.”

Northampton demonstrate appealing football, which proved literally true in the example of their new signing. The Gallic player was involved with the Clermont XV defeated in the continental tournament in the spring when Tommy Freeman scored a hat-trick. Belleau liked what he saw sufficiently to buck the pattern of UK players heading across the Channel.

“A friend phoned me and remarked: ‘We know of a French 10 who’s in search of a club,’” Dowson explains. “I replied: ‘We don’t have money for a imported playmaker. A different option will have to wait.’

‘He’s looking for new challenges, for the possibility to prove his worth,’ my contact told me. That caught my attention. We met with him and his language skills was excellent, he was articulate, he had a sense of humour.

“We questioned: ‘What are your goals from this?’ He answered to be guided, to be challenged, to be facing unfamiliar situations and away from the domestic competition. I was like: ‘Join us, you’re a legend of a man.’ And he proved to be. We’re lucky to have him.”

Dowson says the 20-year-old Henry Pollock brings a particular enthusiasm. Has he encountered an individual similar? “No,” Dowson replies. “Each person is unique but he is unusual and remarkable in numerous aspects. He’s unafraid to be authentic.”

The player's spectacular touchdown against their opponents in the past campaign illustrated his exceptional ability, but a few of his expressive on-field behavior have brought accusations of arrogance.

“On occasion comes across as overconfident in his actions, but he’s not,” Dowson clarifies. “And Pollock is not taking the piss the whole time. Tactically he has input – he’s no fool. I think sometimes it’s shown that he’s just this idiot. But he’s intelligent and a positive influence to have around.”

Hardly any managers would claim to have having a bromance with a colleague, but that is how Dowson describes his partnership with his co-coach.

“Sam and I have an inquisitiveness regarding diverse subjects,” he says. “We maintain a book club. He desires to explore everything, wants to know everything, wants to experience new experiences, and I believe I’m the alike.

“We talk about lots of topics beyond the game: movies, reading, thoughts, culture. When we met Stade [Français] in the past season, Notre-Dame was being done up, so we had a quick look.”

A further fixture in Gall is coming up: The Saints' return with the domestic league will be short-lived because the European tournament kicks in next week. The French side, in the shadow of the mountain range, are the opening fixture on Sunday week before the South African team arrive at the following weekend.

“I’m not going to be overconfident to the extent to {