Former Waratah James Ramm steps Reds hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa in Sydney in August 2020. Credit: Getty Images
Following on from other successful Australians at the club like Rob Horne, Andrew Kellaway, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto and Josh Kemeny, Ramm became a fan favourite at Northampton. He also captained the club and perhaps most crucially, stayed healthy, playing 68 matches over three-and-a-half seasons.
With eligibility to play Test rugby for England, Ramm was on the radar of coach Steve Borthwick, who made contact several times about the prospect of pulling on the red rose.
But Schmidt and Rugby Australia also stayed in touch with Ramm, as part of their strategy to stay connected with Australians at overseas clubs, and where possible, bring them home. Pete Samu, Mat Philip, Folau Faingaa and Nick Champion de Crespigny have also returned in the last two years.
Having had a taste of life inside the Wallabies’ camp in 2020, Ramm’s dream of playing for his country never faded and he agreed to join the Force, turning down significantly more money to extend his contract at Northampton, according to informed sources. Ramm also spoke with the Brumbies.
Speaking recently, Schmidt bracketed Ramm with other star Wallabies overseas, indicating he holds him in high esteem.
“I stay in touch with Taniela [Tupou], big Will Skelton, Jordan Petaia, Lenny Ikitau, Tom Hooper .. even meeting up with James Ramm when we were there, he’s coming back to the Force in the future,” Schmidt said. “Those overseas guys are still very much part of the conversation.”
While there may be raised eyebrows at the recruitment of another outside back, Ramm’s size – and athleticism – could form part of a solution for a major problem exposed in the Wallabies last year: catching contestable kicks.
Contestable kicking into the backfield is now so common it is almost another set-piece, and Australia’s back three struggled against England, Ireland and Italy.
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The Wallabies struggled so much to “retain” contestable kicks – the stat covering the ability to either catch a high ball, clean up a spilled catch or force an error from a rival – they were ranked second-last of the 10 Six Nations-Rugby Championships teams in 2025.
Tall wingers and fullbacks – with spring-heeled vertical leaps – in the mould of Ramm, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii and Mark Nawaqanitawase could yield much better results for the Wallabies in the aerial “50-50” contests.
Ramm was a former junior gymnast who trained for 30 hours a week and competed at national level. He was forced to decide between pursuing gymnastics as a teenager or playing rugby at schoolboy nursery St Joseph’s College.
