Dowson has made 11 appearances for the Saints this season

Northampton Saints forward Phil Dowson says the leadership of the side will be shared even when England hooker Dylan Hartley regains the captaincy.

Dowson stood in as captain during the autumn internationals this month.

He told BBC Radio Northampton: "I think there are leaders all over the field. Everyone has their department.

"James Downey leads our defence, the fly-half and scrum-half do that area, Juandre Kruger in the line-out. Dylan brings it all together."

"I was honoured and delighted to take the chance to be interim captain while he was away, and during that period it's gone quite well," he added.

Dowson joined the Saints from Newcastle Falcons in the summer, and has been a regular starter for Jim Mallinder's side.

"Coming to a club where there's so many good back-row players, I had a tough pre-season and I feel my game has pushed on the back of that," he said.

"Everything I was looking for, happily I've more or less found it."

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