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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Luke McLaughlin

Northampton coach Phil Dowson: ‘I tried working for a bank – it was tough’

Northampton Saints' Director of Rugby Phil Dowson passes the ball during the warmup before May's Champions Cup final
Phil Dowson has presided over some sparkling, successful rugby at Northampton this season. Photograph: Anne-Christine Poujoulat/AFP/Getty Images

Northampton is not the most exotic destination on the planet, but there is plenty of romance and adventure in its rugby union team.

In a town famous for boot‑making you might expect kicking, as frequently and as far as possible, to be the Saints’ modus operandi. But under the director of rugby, Phil Dowson, the team in green, black and gold prefer to keep ball in hand. Despite representing a quintessentially English town, they display a panache synonymous with the greatest French exponents of champagne rugby.

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