NORTHAMPTON SAINTS
Director of RugbyPhil Dowson
Phil Dowson is the director of rugby at Northampton Saints, a two-time Premiership winner whose side plays the most attack-minded rugby in the league.
Tenure record
as of 20 Jun 2026By competition
Premiership Rugby 20P · 16W · 1D · 3L
Premiership Rugby Cup 9P · 6W · 0D · 3L
Champions Cup 6P · 4W · 0D · 2L
Phil Dowson has overseen 35 completed Northampton Saints matches in our database since September 2025 — 26 won, 1 drawn, 8 lost. That is a 74.3% win rate, with 1299 points scored and 1025 conceded.
Records are computed from the WeTalkRugby match database and cover matches we hold data for within this tenure. They are not an official all-time record.
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Coaching career
- 2022- Northampton Saints Director of Rugby
Honours
- 2026 Gallagher Premiership (Northampton Saints)
- 2024 Gallagher Premiership (Northampton Saints)
Players under Phil Dowson
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About Phil Dowson
Phil Dowson is Director of Rugby at Northampton Saints and has now won two Premiership titles in three seasons, in 2024 and again in June 2026.
Born in October 1981, he was a back-row forward, mainly at number 8, who played for Newcastle Falcons, Worcester and Northampton, winning the 2014 Premiership with Saints as a player. He won four England caps in 2012 and captained the side against the Barbarians.
Up through the club
He joined Northampton’s coaching staff in summer 2017 as an assistant under Chris Boyd and stepped up to Director of Rugby for the 2022–23 season when Boyd moved to an advisory role, promoted alongside Sam Vesty. He signed a new deal in early 2024 with Vesty and James Craig.
The Saints identity
Dowson’s Northampton play the most expansive, high-tempo, offload-heavy rugby in England — a deliberate identity rather than a by-product of the personnel. He has built it around a homegrown core including Fin Smith, Tommy Freeman, Alex Mitchell, George Hendy and Henry Pollock, and was named Premiership Director of Rugby of the Season.
Saints beat Exeter 26–17 in the 2026 final to reclaim the title, and open 2026–27 as defending champions.
Frequently asked
Who is the director of rugby of Northampton Saints?
Phil Dowson is the director of rugby of Northampton Saints.
When did Phil Dowson take charge?
Phil Dowson took over at Northampton Saints in July 2022, around 4 years ago.
What is Phil Dowson's record?
From 35 matches in our database: 26 wins, 1 draws and 8 defeats — a 74.3% win rate.
What nationality is Phil Dowson?
Phil Dowson is English.
How old is Phil Dowson?
Phil Dowson is 44 years old.
What has Phil Dowson won?
Honours include: Gallagher Premiership (Northampton Saints) (2026), Gallagher Premiership (Northampton Saints) (2024).
