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Phil Dowson: ‘Everyone at this time of year wants to go deep in both’

Northampton director of rugby Phil Dowson praised his young players for stepping up after his much-changed team defeated Cardiff 28-12 in the Investec Champions Cup.

Rugby Pass

Published: Monday, 19 October 2026 at 8:10 AM

Key Things to Know

Northampton director of rugby Phil Dowson praised his squad following a 28-12 victory over Cardiff.
The result marked the first win for a Premiership club after seven consecutive defeats in the competition.
Dowson rested key players including Henry Pollock, Tommy Freeman, and Alex Coles ahead of the Leicester derby.

The Story in 60 Seconds

Northampton director of rugby Phil Dowson praised his squad's young players after a much-changed team defeated Cardiff 28-12 in their Investec Champions Cup opener. Dowson rested key players including Henry Pollock, Tommy Freeman, and Alex Coles, while also placing Fin Smith on the bench ahead of the upcoming East Midlands derby against Leicester.

Tries from James Pater and Toby Thame gave Northampton a 14-0 lead before Cardiff rallied with scores from Harri Millard and Mason Grady. George Hendy and Fraser Dingwall crossed late to secure the victory, which ended a seven-match losing streak for English Premiership clubs in the competition.

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Phil Dowson: ‘Everyone at this time of year wants to go deep in both’

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