Worcester 軍人s flanker Phil Dowson to retire and return to Northampton Saints in coaching 役割

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Worcester flanker Phil Dowson will retire at the end of the season to join Northampton's coaching staff, with Saints bosses 支援 rugby director Jim Mallinder's stewardship.

Former Northampton 支援する-列／漕ぐ／騒動 Dowson will return to Franklin's Gardens this summer as an assistant coach, filling the 役割 vacated by Alex King in October.

Northampton sit eighth in the Aviva 首相の職 （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する に引き続いて a 46-31 loss at Newcastle, having finished 底（に届く） of their pool in the European 支持する／優勝者s Cup.

Phil Dowson will leave Worcester 軍人s and join Northampton Saints coaching staff

A new-look coaching line-up 含むing former Saints favourite Dowson leaves Mallinder in 支配（する）／統制する, h owever, with Dorian West remaining as 今後s coach, Alan Dickens running the attack and 示す Hopley 監督するing defence.

'We believe we have a strong, stable and committed group of coaches that will take the team 今後 next season,' said rugby director Mallinder.

'The first half of the 現在の season was not what we 手配中の，お尋ね者 it to be, but since Christmas we have been playing some good rugby in all 競争s, 得点する／非難する／２０ing tries and 存在 very 競争の激しい in every game.

'Dorian, Alan and 示す have a strong working 関係 and we are seeing the 利益s of that on the pitch.

'Alan's 質s were recognised last season when he helped England Saxons to a 2-0 series 勝利，勝つ over the 現れるing Springboks, 示す deserves his 適切な時期 at this level after his excellent work with our 上級の 学院 over a number of years and the first team in the past few months, and both of them have 達成するd the highest possible level of coaching 資格s with the RFU.

Dowson moved to Sixways Stadium in 2015 but will link up with director Jim Mallinder at Saints

'安定 is a hallmark of many successful teams, but it is also good to freshen things up and we're delighted to be welcoming Phil Dowson 支援する to the club.

'Phil has been a leader throughout his playing career, whether at Newcastle, here at the Saints, or with the England Saxons, and played a 重要な 役割 in 設立するing the culture that took us to the 最高の，を越す of the Aviva 首相の職.

'He was always a coach on the field and we know that he will have the 尊敬（する）・点 of the players. He's had a 広大な／多数の／重要な playing career and has everything it takes to be a successful coach, too.'

Dowson spent eight years at Newcastle before switching to Northampton in 2009, helping the Saints land the 首相の職 肩書を与える in 2014.

The 35-year-old has spent the last two years at Worcester, and 認める he was excited ahead of his Northampton return.

'The Saints was where I enjoyed most of my success as a player, and in my six years there we were competing in 半分-決勝戦 and 決勝戦 each season,' said Dowson.

'So while I'm sad to be retiring this is a 広大な／多数の／重要な 適切な時期 to get 伴う／関わるd with the club that I love.

'I 明白に know Jim, Dorian, Alan and 示す really 井戸／弁護士席, and how the club 作品, and this will be a 大規模な help as I make the 移行 into the next 行う／開催する／段階 of my career の上に what will be a 法外な learning curve.

'Franklin's Gardens is a special place, and throughout the club - players, coaches, staff, 所有権 and 支持者s - everyone wants the Saints to be successful.

'It's a strong club with strong values and culture, and I'm looking 今後 to getting on the other 味方する of the 盗品故買者 and helping the players get better and to 達成する things.'