James Ramm to depart Northampton Saints

Northampton Saints can today confirm that James Ramm will leave the Club at the end of the current campaign, as he returns to Australia to join Western Force.

The 27-year-old back arrived at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens in the summer of 2022 and made his debut in Saints’ second fixture of the 2022/23 season against London Irish.

Since then, Ramm has gone on to make 68 appearances in a Saints shirt so far, establishing himself as a consistent presence in the back three. He will return to his native Australia this summer, having spent four seasons in Northampton.

“My time at Saints has been the most enjoyable period of my career so far – I’ve absolutely loved being in Northampton,” said Ramm. “From the moment I arrived, the Club, the people, the players and the coaches have all made it such a positive experience, and I’ve got nothing but good things to say about my time here.

“The rugby has obviously been a huge part of that, but what really stands out for me is the environment. You come into training every day and there’s a real energy about the place – everyone wants to improve, but you’re also enjoying the work and having fun together. That’s a credit to the group and to the coaches, and it’s something I’ll miss a lot.

“Now, though, it feels like the right time for my wife and I to head home. We’ve spent four years here, reached some big milestones together and built memories we’ll always cherish, but returning to Australia and starting the next chapter of our lives is something we’re really looking forward to.

“I’ll thank the boys and the staff properly myself, but I do want to say how much the Saints family has meant to me. The supporters have been incredibly welcoming from day one, and playing at cinch Stadium has been a special experience. The messages after games and the support around town have made this a brilliant place to play rugby.

“I’m not finished here yet, though. We’re still competing on multiple fronts and my focus is fully on giving everything I can for this team right until the end. To finish by winning more silverware would be the perfect way to sign off in Northampton.”

Ramm began his professional career with Randwick, featuring in the Shute Shield and representing Sydney Rays in the NRC before earning a contract with the Waratahs.

He was selected for the Junior Wallabies in 2018, representing Australia at the World Rugby Under-20s Championship that year, and balanced his early playing career with studying for a degree in biomedical engineering at the University of New South Wales.

Ramm made an immediate impact in Super Rugby, scoring on debut for the Waratahs in 2020, and marked his Saints bow in similar fashion by crossing twice against London Irish in 2022.

He made his Gallagher PREM debut two months later and scored his first league try away at Gloucester, before being named the Club’s Player of the Month for November – an early indication of his consistency and impact.

Since then, Ramm has surpassed 50 appearances for the Club and accumulated more than 100 points by the end of the 2024/25 campaign. He was also recognised with the 2022/23 Breakthrough Player and Players’ Player of the Season awards following his first campaign in Northampton.

Saints’ Director of Rugby, Phil Dowson, said: “James has been an excellent player for Northampton Saints and has been fully committed to what we’ve been building here. He’s played a significant role in our success over the past few seasons and has consistently given everything for the Club.

“On the field, his quality is clear to see. He’s strong in the air, quick, skilful, and has a real instinct for finding space. His defensive work has developed impressively during his time with us, and his kicking game adds another important dimension. He’s a very good rugby player and someone we’ve been fortunate to have in our back three.

“Off the field, James has also been a real asset to our group. He’s proactive, thoughtful and a natural leader, and he’s contributed a huge amount to the environment we pride ourselves on here – whether that’s bringing players together away from training or helping drive the cohesion within the squad. Those things matter, and he’s been outstanding in that respect.

“James’ desire to return home was a strong factor in his decision, as was his long-term ambition to play international rugby for Australia. He’s had positive conversations there, and we fully support him in that next step – we’d be delighted to see him pull on a Wallabies shirt in the future.

“There’s still plenty of rugby for James to play in Black, Green and Gold before the end of the season, and our focus now is on finishing strongly together. He’s a hugely valued member of this squad, and we want to make sure we give him the send-off his contribution to Saints deserves.”