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This English town may not be the most tropical location globally, but its rugby union team delivers a great deal of excitement and passion.

In a city famous for shoe production, you could anticipate punting to be the Saints’ modus operandi. However under leader Phil Dowson, the side in green, black and gold choose to keep ball in hand.

Although representing a typically British location, they display a style associated with the best Gallic masters of champagne rugby.

From the time Dowson and fellow coach Sam Vesty assumed control in 2022, the Saints have won the Premiership and gone deep in the Champions Cup – beaten by a French side in the previous campaign's decider and knocked out by the Irish province in a semi-final before that.

They sit atop the league standings after a series of victories and one tie and travel to Bristol on the weekend as the only unbeaten side, seeking a first win at their opponent's ground since 2021.

It would be expected to think Dowson, who played 262 top-flight matches for various teams combined, had long intended to be a manager.

“When I played, I didn't really think about it,” he remarks. “Yet as you age, you understand how much you appreciate the game, and what the real world entails. I spent some time at a banking firm doing a trial period. You make the journey a several occasions, and it was challenging – you see what you possess and lack.”

Discussions with club legends led to a role at the Saints. Jump ahead a decade and Dowson leads a squad progressively filled with national team players: key individuals started for the national side against the All Blacks two weeks ago.

Henry Pollock also had a profound impact off the bench in the national team's perfect autumn while the fly-half, down the line, will take over the pivotal position.

Is the development of this exceptional group due to the team's ethos, or is it fortune?

“This is a mix of each,” states Dowson. “My thanks go to the former director of rugby, who basically just threw them in, and we had challenging moments. But the practice they had as a unit is definitely one of the causes they are so united and so skilled.”

Dowson also mentions his predecessor, an earlier coach at their stadium, as a major influence. “I was lucky to be coached by highly engaging people,” he adds. “Mallinder had a big impact on my rugby life, my training methods, how I deal with individuals.”

Saints demonstrate appealing football, which proved literally true in the example of Anthony Belleau. The Frenchman was involved with the French club overcome in the continental tournament in last season when the winger scored a hat-trick. Belleau was impressed sufficiently to reverse the trend of British stars moving to France.

“A friend phoned me and said: ‘There’s a Gallic number ten who’s in search of a team,’” Dowson says. “I replied: ‘There's no money for a imported playmaker. A different option will have to wait.’

‘He’s looking for new challenges, for the possibility to challenge himself,’ my friend informed me. That interested me. We spoke to Belleau and his language skills was excellent, he was eloquent, he had a sense of humour.

“We questioned: ‘What do you want from this?’ He answered to be coached, to be driven, to be in a new environment and beyond the domestic competition. I was thinking: ‘Come on in, you’re a fantastic individual.’ And he turned out to be. We’re lucky to have him.”

Dowson states the young Pollock brings a particular energy. Has he coached anyone like him? “Never,” Dowson responds. “Everyone’s individual but Pollock is unusual and remarkable in multiple respects. He’s unafraid to be authentic.”

Pollock’s spectacular touchdown against their opponents previously illustrated his freakish skill, but a few of his demonstrative during matches actions have led to allegations of cockiness.

“On occasion appears overconfident in his conduct, but he’s far from it,” Dowson asserts. “And Henry’s being serious the whole time. Tactically he has ideas – he’s a smart player. I feel at times it’s portrayed that he’s only a character. But he’s clever and great to have in the squad.”

Hardly any coaches would describe themselves as having a bromance with a colleague, but that is how Dowson characterizes his relationship with his co-coach.

“We both have an curiosity around various topics,” he says. “We maintain a book club. He desires to explore various elements, aims to learn everything, aims to encounter varied activities, and I believe I’m the similar.

“We discuss many topics outside the sport: cinema, reading, thoughts, creativity. When we met the Parisian club last year, the landmark was under renovation, so we had a little wander around.”

A further fixture in France is looming: The Saints' reacquaintance with the Prem will be temporary because the Champions Cup intervenes soon. Their next opponents, in the vicinity of the border region, are the opening fixture on matchday before the Pretoria-based club travel to soon after.

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