Phil Dowson

Phil Dowson
Birth namePhilip David Acton Dowson
Date of birth (1981-10-01) 1 October 1981 (age 43)
Place of birthGuildford, England
Height6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight108 kg (17 st 0 lb)
SchoolSedbergh School
Rugby union career
Position(s) Number Eight, Flanker
Youth career
Wigton
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2001–2009
2009–2015
2015–2017		 Newcastle Falcons
Northampton Saints
Worcester Warriors		 96
186
37		 (45)
(140)
(5)
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2012 England 7 (0)
National sevens team
Years Team Comps
2005 England Hong Kong

Phil Dowson (born 1 October 1981) is director of rugby at Northampton Saints. He is a former English rugby union player. He played for Worcester Warriors, Northampton Saints and Newcastle Falcons in the Aviva Premiership.

Dowson's position of choice was as a number 8 and he could also operate as a flanker. In 2004 he was a member of Falcons’ Powergen Cup winning side at Twickenham, scoring a try after coming on as a replacement in the final.[1] Dowson made over 130 appearances for the Falcons and captained the side for two seasons.

Dowson represented the England Sevens team at the 2005 World Cup in Hong Kong.[2] He was then selected for the 2005 Churchill Cup.[3] He was called into the England Saxons side that defeated Ireland A on 1 February 2008.[4][5]

Dowson represented England Saxons at the 2007 Churchill Cup[6] and 2009 Churchill Cup.[7]

Dowson signed for the Northampton Saints from the Newcastle Falcons in the summer of 2009.[8] In 2012, Dowson gained his first full international cap for England vs Scotland in the Six Nations. A further cap against Italy as well as substitute appearances against France and Ireland.

He was named as England captain for England's next match, although it was a non capped match, against the Barbarians which England went on to win 57–26.

In 2014 Dowson played as a replacement as Northampton beat Saracens to win the Premiership.[9]

He signed for Worcester Warriors having made over 180 appearances for the Saints, in the 2015-16 season in the Aviva Premiership.[10]

On 20 February 2017, Dowson announces his retirement from professional competition at the end of the season, where he will rejoin with his old club Northampton Saints as an assistant coach.[11]

Phil Dowson coached the England XV that faced the Barbarians in June 2019.[12]

Phil Dowson set up a print supply business in 2008. Nth Degree Imaging provides print solutions to the large format and industrial print markets. https://ndi.ltd

  1. ^ "Newcastle 37–33 Sale". BBC. 17 April 2004. Retrieved 16 July 2009.
  2. ^ "Dowson gets suited and booted for Rugby World Cup". RFU. 2 May 2009. Archived from the original on 20 November 2008. Retrieved 16 July 2009.
  3. ^ "Dowson enjoying step up to elite". ESPN Scrum. 19 June 2005. Retrieved 16 July 2009.
  4. ^ "England Saxons squad for Ireland A match". RFU. 23 January 2008. Archived from the original on 2 April 2008. Retrieved 3 February 2008.
  5. ^ "Varndell shines in Saxons victory". BBC. 2 February 2008. Retrieved 3 February 2008.
  6. ^ "England Saxons 17–13 NZ Maori". BBC. 2 June 2007. Retrieved 16 July 2009.
  7. ^ "Ireland A 49–22 England Saxons". BBC. 21 June 2009. Retrieved 16 July 2009.
  8. ^ "Dowson leaves Falcons for Saints". BBC. 15 April 2009. Retrieved 16 July 2009.
  9. ^ "Premiership final: Saracens 20-24 Northampton Saints". 31 May 2014. Retrieved 24 March 2019 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  10. ^ "Worcester sign former England flanker Phil Dowson from Northampton Saints". BBC Sport. 18 February 2016.
  11. ^ "Worcester Warriors former England no.8 Phil Dowson announces retirement to go into coaching position". BBC Sport. 20 February 2017. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
  12. ^ Meagher, Gerard (2 June 2019). "England young guns Dombrandt and Smith shine in defeat of Barbarians". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 29 May 2024.