Australia-bound James Ramm sends Len Ikitau-style message

James Ramm, who announced in February he was leaving Northampton Saints at the end of the season, admits it’s a decision that is hitting home as he enters the last two, potentially three, games of the season, but says that it might not be goodbye forever.

Winger Ramm, 28, is heading to the Western Force next season on a two-year deal and says that if he hadn’t chased the World Cup dream, which is being played on home soil, it is something that he might have regretted forever.

The former Waratahs ace, who has scored 32 tries in 74 appearances for the Saints, says the decision to leave wasn’t made lightly and that he is open to coming back when his next contract runs out in 2028.

“I think it’s definitely becoming more real. We had the leaving ceremony after the game on the weekend, and when you get presented with your jersey, and it’s definitely starting to hit home a bit more that, you know, this is it.

“Trying to pack your life up is quite a task. We’ve collected a lot of just random little bits over the four years, and we think, ‘What are we going to do with all this stuff?’ So, trying to pack boxes and ship stuff back is a job.

“I had to talk with my wife about it a lot, and then what we really wanted from this next chapter. And I think we were always going to end up living back in Australia. It was just about when, and the pull of a home World Cup, was really a big factor, in our decision.

“I just thought if I can throw everything at it, and if I looked back on this time and thought I’d wish I had, I’d really regret it. So, I’m just sort of putting everything in place to make sure that I don’t look back and regret anything.

“I think once the decision’s made, I’m pretty good at sort of backing it. I don’t spend too long pondering on it. Coming back? I’m not opposed to it at all. I’ve got no bad words for this place, so we’ll see where the next two years take us,” said Ramm.