Dowson says Saints are enjoying work and play on pre-season trip to Sri Lanka
Phil Dowson says the Saints' pre-season trip to Sri Lanka has 'been great so far' as he and his players take in 'a new culture together' ahead of their first pre-season friendly on Friday.
The Saints squad flew to Colombo on Sunday, and have been making the most of their time away, mixing hard work in training with exploration in their downtime.
Some of the squad even took the chance to play cricket against some legends of the game, before taking in a day's play in the second Test between Sri Lanka and India.
Director of rugby Dowson has been delighted with how the trip has gone, and is now looking forward to seeing how his troops shape up with a rugby ball in hand when they take on the Asia Pacific Lions at the Racecourse International Stadium on Friday morning (ko 11.30am UK time).
But he made it clear this trip has been more than just rugby.
“The benefits of travelling together are really obvious in terms of the lads getting to spend lots of time together and getting to know each other better," Dowson told northamptonsaints.co.uk.
"But there is also the chance to immerse ourselves in something totally different, experience a new culture together.
“The trip’s been great so far, the lads have really bought into Sri Lankan life and experiencing the difference in culture.
“The welcome had been incredible. Everyone has been so friendly, so curious about rugby, so helpful.
"They’ve been trying to make us feel as welcome as possible and show off their country which they’re obviously very proud of.
“The boys have engaged with that; they’ve got out and about outside of the hotel.
"They’re just trying to see as much of Sri Lanka as they possibly can in the short time we’re here.”
The week away kicked off with a special T12 charity cricket match that saw Rugby take on Cricket - namely a joint Saints and Asia Pacific side - captained by Australian legend David Campese - taking on a Sri Lanka Legends team.
The home side included Sri Lanka stars such as Arjuna Ranatunga, Aravinda De Silva, Romesh Kaluwitharana, Mahela Jayawardene and former Northants man Chaminda Vaas.
The Legends batted first and made 139 for four, with wickets for Alex Coles, Henry Pollock and Tommy Freeman.
And although there were decent efforts with the bat from Alex Mitchell (24 off 16), Coles (19no from 6) and George Hendy (18 from 14), the Rugby side finished short on 90 for eight to lose by 49 runs.
Dowson said: “Cricket is everywhere here.
"The game against the Sri Lankan World Cup legends was an excellent experience - despite the fact that Tommy Freeman dropped Jayawardene off my bowling!
“A few of the boys also went to watch the Sri Lanka Test match which is an experience to go and watch a Test match abroad.
“Everywhere we travel on the bus, there’s cricket pitches and cricket games going on – they’re mad for it. We’re actually in the same hotel as the Sri Lankan cricket team as well.
“It’s been cool to see that side of sporting life in Sri Lanka.”