The Australian rugby star, James Ramm, is making a bold move back home to compete for a spot on the Wallabies team at the 2027 Rugby World Cup. Ramm, a former Waratahs flyer, has turned down offers to play for England, choosing instead to join Rugby Australia and the Western Force. This decision comes after a targeted repatriation effort by Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt, who met with the Sydney-raised player during a tour of England in November. Standing at 193cm and weighing 100kg, Ramm's athletic background in gymnastics makes him a potential solution to the Wallabies' struggles with 'contestable kicks', a stat that measures the ability to catch high balls, clean up spilled catches, or force errors from rivals. Ramm's dominance with the Northampton Saints in the English Premiership, where he won the club's players' player award in his first year, has made him a fan favorite and a key man in the team's success. With eligibility to play Test rugby for England, Ramm was on the radar of coach Steve Borthwick, but his decision to return to Australia is a strategic move by Schmidt and Rugby Australia to reconnect with Australians playing overseas and bring them home. This strategy has seen the return of players like Pete Samu, Mat Philip, Folau Faingaa, and Nick Champion de Crespigny in the last two years. 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. With his size, athleticism, and gymnastics background, Ramm could be the key to improving the Wallabies' aerial '50-50' contests and helping them retain contestable kicks more effectively.
