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This English town may not be the most glamorous spot globally, but its squad offers plenty of excitement and passion.

In a city renowned for boot‑making, you would think kicking to be the Saints’ main approach. But under the director of rugby Phil Dowson, the side in their distinctive colors opt to run with the ball.

Even though embodying a typically British community, they exhibit a panache typical of the best French practitioners of champagne rugby.

After Dowson and the head coach Sam Vesty stepped up in 2022, the Saints have secured the domestic league and advanced far in the European competition – losing to a French side in the previous campaign's decider and eliminated by the Irish province in a penultimate round earlier.

They currently top the competition ladder after multiple successes and a single stalemate and head to Bristol on Saturday as the sole undefeated team, chasing a maiden victory at Ashton Gate since 2021.

It would be expected to think Dowson, who participated in 262 elite fixtures for multiple clubs altogether, always planned to be a coach.

“As a professional, I didn't really think about it,” he says. “But as you get older, you realise how much you love the game, and what the everyday life is like. I had a stint at a financial institution doing a trial period. You travel to work a several occasions, and it was tough – you grasp what you have going for you.”

Discussions with former mentors culminated in a job at the Saints. Move forward a decade and Dowson guides a roster progressively crammed with national team players: prominent figures were selected for the Red Rose against the All Blacks two weeks ago.

The young flanker also had a major effect as a substitute in the national team's perfect autumn while Fin Smith, in time, will assume the pivotal position.

Is the rise of this remarkable group because of the Saints’ culture, or is it fortune?

“It's a combination of the two,” states Dowson. “I would acknowledge Chris Boyd, who gave them opportunities, and we had difficult periods. But the experience they had as a group is certainly one of the causes they are so united and so talented.”

Dowson also cites Jim Mallinder, an earlier coach at Franklin’s Gardens, as a key figure. “It was my good fortune to be coached by exceptionally insightful personalities,” he says. “Jim had a major effect on my professional journey, my training methods, how I interact with others.”

The team demonstrate entertaining the game, which proved literally true in the instance of their new signing. The import was involved with the French club defeated in the Champions Cup in last season when the winger notched a triple. Belleau liked what he saw sufficiently to buck the pattern of UK players joining Top 14 sides.

“A mate called me and said: ‘There’s a fly-half from France who’s in search of a club,’” Dowson explains. “I replied: ‘There's no budget for a imported playmaker. Thomas Ramos will have to wait.’

‘He wants new challenges, for the opportunity to challenge himself,’ my contact said. That caught my attention. We had a conversation with Belleau and his communication was excellent, he was eloquent, he had a witty personality.

“We questioned: ‘What do you want from this?’ He responded to be trained, to be challenged, to be facing unfamiliar situations and outside the French league. I was thinking: ‘Come on in, you’re a legend of a man.’ And he proved to be. We’re fortunate to have him.”

Dowson states the 20-year-old the flanker brings a specific enthusiasm. Does he know an individual similar? “No,” Dowson replies. “Everyone’s unique but he is different and unique in numerous aspects. He’s unafraid to be himself.”

The player's breathtaking touchdown against their opponents in the past campaign demonstrated his unusual skill, but some of his animated on-field behavior have brought accusations of cockiness.

“He sometimes seems cocky in his actions, but he’s not,” Dowson asserts. “And Henry’s not taking the piss constantly. Game-wise he has contributions – he’s a smart player. I think sometimes it’s portrayed that he’s only a character. But he’s bright and a positive influence in the squad.”

Hardly any managers would claim to have having a bromance with a head coach, but that is how Dowson characterizes his connection with Sam Vesty.

“Sam and I share an interest regarding various topics,” he notes. “We have a book club. He wants to see all aspects, aims to learn everything, wants to experience different things, and I believe I’m the similar.

“We converse on numerous subjects away from rugby: movies, reading, ideas, culture. When we played the Parisian club previously, Notre-Dame was undergoing restoration, so we had a little wander around.”

Another date in the French nation is looming: The Saints' return with the Prem will be short-lived because the European tournament intervenes soon. The French side, in the shadow of the border region, are the opening fixture on matchday before the Bulls travel to soon after.

“I refuse to be presumptuous enough to {