James Ramm pens new contract at Northampton Saints

Northampton Saints today confirm that James Ramm has put pen to paper on a new contract with the Club.

The Sydney-born English-qualified outside back enjoyed a sensational debut season as a Saint following his switch to Northampton from the NSW Waratahs.

The 2022/23 campaign saw him score eight tries in 19 appearances in Black, Green and Gold, with his performances earning him both of the Club’s Players’ Player of the Season and Breakthrough Player of the Season accolades.

Ramm then hit the ground running in season two at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens, scoring three tries in his first four games, before sustaining an injury in the 36-33 Gallagher Premiership victory over Harlequins in November.

The 25-year-old is now closing in on a return to action, much to the pleasure of Saints’ Director of Rugby Phil Dowson, who is delighted to secure Ramm’s talents in his back-line in for an extended period.

He said: “James was voted as our Players’ Player of the Season as well as Breakthrough Player of the Season last year, and that is testament to his performances on the pitch.

“He is one of the most conscientious and professional players in the squad, setting a great example in how he goes about making himself a better player.

“He’s great for the squad, as he is comfortable both at fullback and on the wing, and James’ great strengths are being incredibly athletic, his ability to deal with the high ball, his kicking game, and he’s also very physical – he put some weight on over the summer and has stayed really strong, which makes him even more dangerous.

“I think there’s still a lot of growth in James, as his mindset is all about always trying to improve, so I am really happy he’s staying here with us at Saints.

“He’s also a top man off the pitch. James and his partner have integrated themselves brilliantly into Northampton life, and they are a really important part of the group here.”

Ramm firmly established himself as a supporter favourite during his first season at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens, with a series of standout moments including a sublime offload in his first East Midlands Derby outing at Mattioli Woods Welford Road – providing the assist for Ollie Sleightholme to score a crucial try in a 19-18 win in January 2023.

The 25-year-old is hoping to continue his upward trajectory in Northampton, citing the quality of the coaches and the closeness of the playing squad as the key reasons for wanting to remain a Saint for the foreseeable future.

“I am very excited to be staying here in Northampton,” Ramm said. “I loved my first year here, and having a bit of a setback this year with injury has only made me hungrier for the seasons still to come.

“The biggest thing for me is that I have seen myself become a better player while at the Club. One of the reasons I came over here was to grow as a player, and play as much rugby as possible.

“The way that the coaches work here ensures that you get better as a player, and therefore the team gets better, which is something I’m really excited for in the coming seasons.

“It is a really lovely group of lads in the squad, I have never been in a place like it. The results this season reflect how close of a group this is, and you can see it when we are playing – this is a group I want to be part of for the long term.”