Phil Dowson
England
player portrait
Full name Philip David Acton Dowson
Born October 1, 1981, Guildford
Current age 42 years 170 days
Major teams England A, Newcastle Falcons, Northampton Saints, Worcester Warriors, England, England XV
Position Back-row
Height 6 ft 3 in
Weight 238 lb

Test career
Span Mat Start Sub Pts Tries Conv Pens Drop Won Lost Draw %
All Tests 2012-2012 7 2 5 0 0 0 0 0 4 2 1 64.28
Five/Six Nations 2012-2012 5 2 3 0 0 0 0 0 4 1 0 80

Career statistics
Test debut Scotland v England at Murrayfield, Feb 4, 2012 match details
Last Test South Africa v England at Port Elizabeth, Jun 23, 2012 match details
Test Statsguru Main menu | Career summary | Match list | Tournament list

English Premiership
Team Span Mat Start Sub Pts Tries Conv Pens Drop Won Lost Draw %
All matches 2001-2017 262 211 51 145 29 0 0 0 131 124 7 51.33
Newcastle Falcons 2001-2009 96 76 20 45 9 0 0 0 36 58 2 38.54
Northampton Saints 2009-2015 129 104 25 95 19 0 0 0 86 40 3 67.82
Worcester Warriors 2015-2017 37 31 6 5 1 0 0 0 9 26 2 27.02
Profile

Dowson rose to international prominence during the 2009-10 season and was handed his first senior start in England's non-Test clash against the New Zealand Maori in June 2010, having been called up from the England Saxons squad contesting that year's Churchill Cup.

His selection capped an outstanding year where his consistent excellence helped Northampton secure the Anglo-Welsh Cup crown and also saw him shortlisted for both the Guinness Premiership Player of the Season and RPA Players' Player of the Season.

His early days were as a mini at Wigton, a Cumbrian club, but his schooldays at Sedbergh shaped his rugby future and selection for the England School side pointed to his potential. He joined the Newcastle Academy in 2001-02 and was a stalwart for the Premiership club, featuring in their 2004 Powergen Cup victory, until opting for a switch to Northampton ahead of the 2009-10 season.

Dowson's game went to another level at Franklin's Gardens and he played an integral role in the club's emergence as one of the most exciting sides in European rugby. However, full England honours continued to elude him and he again had to make do with a place in the Saxons squad for the 2011 clashes with Italy 'A' and the Irish Wolfhounds.

A losing effort with the Saints in the Heineken Cup final was followed by omission from the England squad for the Rugby World Cup, although Dowson emerged as a leadership figure under Stuart Lancaster's new England regime. He began the 2012 Six Nations at No.8 and despite losing his spot to Ben Morgan and later Thomas Waldrom - on tour to South Africa - his England dream was finally realised.

Latest Articles
Saints return to top with win at Saracens (Nov 23, 2014) Lions Watch: Team of the Week (Jan 7, 2013) Easter slams reliance on foreign-born players (Jan 6, 2013) Saints rally to see off Chiefs (Sep 9, 2012) New-look England to tackle Barbarians (May 25, 2012) Phil Dowson news and articles (44) »
Latest Photos
Nov 23, 2014
Billy Vunipola of Saracens tackles Northampton's Calum Clark in heavy traffic
Billy Vunipola of Saracens tackles Northampton's Calum Clark in heavy traffic
©  Getty Images
Mar 1, 2014
Mike Tindall tries to break through the challenge of Northampton's Phil Dowson
Mike Tindall tries to break through the challenge of Northampton's Phil Dowson
©  Getty Images
Jan 5, 2013
Northampton's Phil Dowson takes the attack to Exeter
Northampton's Phil Dowson takes the attack to Exeter
©  Getty Images
Dec 30, 2012
Northampton's Phil Dowson touches down
Northampton's Phil Dowson touches down
©  PA Photos
Phil Dowson rugby photos (36) »

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