Northampton Saints are better prepared for this season’s defence of their Prem Rugby title than the last time they were champions, according to director of rugby Phil Dowson.
Saints finished top of the table in 2025-2026, winning 14 of their 18 matches before beating Exeter 26-17 at Allianz Stadium to lift the trophy in June.
They had also won the title in 2024, but saw a host of top players leave the club including Courtney Lawes, Alex Waller, Lewis Ludlam and Alex Moon before finishing a lowly eighth the following season.
Dowson told the BBC Radio Northampton Saints Show: “The 2024-2025 season was probably the most frustrating I’ve had from a coaching point of view, because we had such a good quality group.
“You can see that from how we went in Europe (losing the Champions Cup final to Bordeaux) and we beat some some good teams, not just in the semi-final.
“We had really good capability but we didn’t have the consitency. That’s what 300 games plus of Alex Waller gives you.
“But in the same breath, those experiences those players had then undoubtedly had an impact last year in terms of that quality.”
The club has once again seen a number of big names move on in the summer, including George Furbank, James Ramm, Sam Graham, Tom James and Elliot Millar Mills.
Amongst their new signings are international tight-head prop Ion Neculai and his Italian team-mate, wing Malik Faissal.
Meanwhile, senior players Tommy Freeman, Fin Smith, Fraser Dingwall and Alex Mitchell have all agreed new deals, with England team-mate Henry Pollock contracted for 2026-2027 at least.
“This time we’ve tried to keep hold of some of that experience, and we’re hoping the guys we’re bringing in will have a critical mass to make sure we can get back into those positions,” said Dowson.
“That’s also a time cost as well because you don’t know quite how the evolution of the squad is going to go.
“So as a coaching group, a director of rugby, a playing group and with our sport psychologist Ollie Dixon, we’re better prepared to learn those lessons from two years ago.”
