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This English town isn't exactly the most exotic destination globally, but its club offers an abundance of romance and adventure.

In a city famous for footwear manufacturing, you would think punting to be the Northampton's modus operandi. Yet under the director of rugby Phil Dowson, the side in their distinctive colors choose to keep ball in hand.

Despite representing a quintessentially English town, they display a style associated with the best Gallic exponents of champagne rugby.

From the time Dowson and the head coach Sam Vesty took over in 2022, the Saints have won the domestic league and advanced far in the Champions Cup – defeated by Bordeaux-Bègles in the ultimate match and knocked out by the Irish province in a penultimate round previously.

They sit atop the league standings after a series of victories and one tie and travel to Bristol on matchday as the just one without a loss, chasing a initial success at Ashton Gate since 2021.

It would be natural to think Dowson, who featured in 262 premier fixtures for Newcastle, Northampton and Worcester combined, always planned to be a manager.

“As a professional, I never seriously considered it,” he says. “However as you get older, you understand how much you enjoy the sport, and what the everyday life looks like. I had a stint at a financial institution doing work experience. You do the commute a multiple instances, and it was tough – you realise what you do and don’t have.”

Talks with club legends led to a position at the Saints. Jump ahead a decade and Dowson manages a squad progressively crammed with global stars: Tommy Freeman, Fraser Dingwall, Alex Mitchell and Alex Coles lined up 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 Fin Smith, down the line, will inherit the fly-half role.

Is the rise of this remarkable generation attributable to the club's environment, or is it luck?

“This is a combination of the two,” comments Dowson. “I would acknowledge an ex-coach, who gave them opportunities, and we had some tough days. But the practice they had as a unit is undoubtedly one of the factors they are so close-knit and so gifted.”

Dowson also namechecks his predecessor, another predecessor at the club's home, as a key figure. “It was my good fortune to be guided by highly engaging individuals,” he adds. “Mallinder had a significant influence on my career, my training methods, how I interact with individuals.”

Saints play attractive rugby, which proved literally true in the example of their new signing. The Gallic player was part of the French club beaten in the Champions Cup in April when the winger notched a triple. He liked what he saw to such an extent to go against the flow of British stars heading across the Channel.

“A mate called me and said: ‘We know of a fly-half from France who’s looking for a club,’” Dowson recalls. “I replied: ‘We lack the funds for a French fly-half. A different option will have to wait.’

‘He wants new challenges, for the possibility to challenge himself,’ my friend informed me. That caught my attention. We met with Belleau and his communication was outstanding, he was well-spoken, he had a sense of humour.

“We questioned: ‘What do you want from this?’ He responded to be trained, to be challenged, to be in a new environment and away from the domestic competition. I was saying: ‘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 the flanker brings a specific enthusiasm. Has he encountered anyone like him? “Not really,” Dowson answers. “Each person is individual but he is distinct and special in multiple respects. He’s not afraid to be himself.”

His breathtaking try against their opponents previously demonstrated his unusual talent, but some of his animated in-game actions have brought claims of cockiness.

“On occasion appears arrogant in his actions, but he’s the opposite,” Dowson says. “Furthermore Pollock is not joking around constantly. In terms of strategy he has input – he’s a smart player. I think sometimes it’s shown that he’s merely a joker. But he’s bright and good fun within the team.”

Not many directors of rugby would claim to have having a bromance with a assistant, but that is how Dowson characterizes his partnership with Sam Vesty.

“We both possess an interest about diverse subjects,” he says. “We maintain a literary circle. He aims to discover everything, wants to know all there is, desires to try different things, and I believe I’m the similar.

“We converse on numerous things outside the sport: movies, books, thoughts, creativity. When we played Stade [Français] previously, the cathedral was being done up, so we had a little wander around.”

A further date in France is approaching: Northampton’s reacquaintance with the domestic league will be temporary because the European tournament kicks in next week. The French side, in the vicinity of the border region, are the initial challenge on Sunday week before the Pretoria-based club arrive at soon after.

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