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This English town is hardly the most tropical location in the world, but its squad delivers a great deal of romance and adventure.

In a city renowned for shoe production, you could anticipate boot work to be the Saints’ main approach. However under head coach Phil Dowson, the side in green, black and gold prefer to keep ball in hand.

Although playing for a quintessentially English community, they exhibit a panache synonymous with the best Gallic masters of champagne rugby.

After Dowson and his colleague Sam Vesty stepped up in 2022, the Saints have secured the domestic league and gone deep in the European competition – losing to Bordeaux-Bègles in the ultimate match and ousted by the Irish province in a last-four clash before that.

They lead the Prem table after multiple successes and a single stalemate and travel to Bristol on the weekend as the sole undefeated team, chasing a maiden victory at Ashton Gate since 2021.

It would be natural to think Dowson, who participated in 262 elite matches for various teams in total, consistently aimed to be a manager.

“As a professional, I didn't really think about it,” he states. “However as you mature, you realise how much you enjoy the game, and what the normal employment entails. I had a stint at Metro Bank doing work experience. You make the journey a few times, and it was challenging – you see what you possess and lack.”

Discussions with Dusty Hare and Jim Mallinder resulted in a job at the Saints. Move forward several seasons and Dowson guides a team ever more filled with global stars: prominent figures lined up for the Red Rose versus the New Zealand two weeks ago.

The young flanker also had a profound impact from the replacements in the national team's perfect autumn while the number ten, down the line, will inherit the No 10 jersey.

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

“It is a combination of the two,” says Dowson. “My thanks go to Chris Boyd, who thrust them into action, and we had challenging moments. But the experience they had as a collective is certainly one of the causes they are so close-knit and so talented.”

Dowson also mentions Mallinder, another predecessor at their stadium, as a significant mentor. “I was lucky to be mentored by highly engaging personalities,” he adds. “He had a big impact on my career, my management style, how I interact with people.”

Saints demonstrate entertaining the game, which proved literally true in the instance of their new signing. The Frenchman was part of the opposing team beaten in the Champions Cup in the spring when Tommy Freeman registered a three tries. He admired the style to such an extent to reverse the trend of English talent joining Top 14 sides.

“A friend phoned me and stated: ‘We've found a Gallic number ten who’s in search of a team,’” Dowson recalls. “I said: ‘There's no funds for a French fly-half. A different option will have to wait.’

‘He’s looking for new challenges, for the chance to challenge himself,’ my friend told me. That interested me. We had a conversation with Belleau and his language skills was excellent, he was articulate, he had a sense of humour.

“We questioned: ‘What do you want from this?’ He answered to be trained, to be pushed, to be outside his comfort zone and away from the French league. I was saying: ‘Come on in, you’re a legend of a man.’ And he turned out to be. We’re lucky to have him.”

Dowson says the 20-year-old the flanker provides a unique energy. Does he know a player comparable? “No,” Dowson answers. “Each person is individual but Henry is different and unique in many ways. He’s fearless to be himself.”

His sensational try against the Irish side last season demonstrated his exceptional skill, but various his expressive in-game antics have resulted in claims of overconfidence.

“He sometimes seems overconfident in his conduct, but he’s the opposite,” Dowson asserts. “And Henry’s being serious the whole time. Tactically he has ideas – he’s a smart player. I feel on occasion it’s shown that he’s only a character. But he’s bright and a positive influence within the team.”

Hardly any directors of rugby would claim to have sharing a close bond with a head coach, but that is how Dowson frames his partnership with Vesty.

“Together possess an curiosity regarding diverse subjects,” he notes. “We have a reading group. He desires to explore all aspects, wants to know each detail, aims to encounter new experiences, and I believe I’m the alike.

“We talk about many subjects beyond the sport: movies, reading, ideas, culture. When we faced Stade [Français] in the past season, the cathedral was under renovation, so we had a little wander around.”

One more match in the French nation is coming up: The Saints' reacquaintance with the domestic league will be short-lived because the European tournament intervenes soon. Pau, in the foothills of the mountain range, are the initial challenge on Sunday week before the Pretoria-based club visit soon after.

“I refuse to be presumptuous sufficiently to {