Newcastle Falcons VS Northampton - Programme

IN OPPOSITION - THREE TO WATCH
JAMES RAMM
The 24-year-old winger is in his first season with the Saints, having
joined from Australian side New South Wales Waratahs.
The English-qualified flyer was a competitive gymnast in his youth,
with the former Randwick player breaking through to Super Rugby
before earning his move north last summer.
A former Australia Under-20s international, Ramm has scored three
tries in his ten Premiership games to date, with seven tries in 16
outings in all competitions.
FIN SMITH
The 20-year-old fly-half was a mid-season signing from Worcester
Warriors, but has gone on to become a mainstay of the Saints line-up.
Making his Premiership debut for Worcester as an 18-year-old, he
appeared 31 times for the Warriors before heading to Northampton, where
Dan Biggar’s move to Toulon handed him the chance for further minutes.
Qualified to play for Scotland as well as England, Smith has already
been part of England training squads but is yet to take the field in a full
international, although he did appear eight times for England Under-20s.
DIRECTOR OF RUGBY
PHIL DOWSON
DAVID RIBBANS
Raised in South Africa, lock-forward Ribbans began his professional
rugby journey with Western Province, graduating to the Stormers’ setup
in Super Rugby.
Signing to Northampton in 2017, the 27-year-old has now played 102
games for the Saints, scoring 17 tries.
His consistent club performances have also won the English-qualified
forward international recognition, lining up six times for England,
although his impending summer move to France looks set to impede his
chances of adding to that in the longer term.
Northampton’s director of rugby is a familiar face to
supporters at Kingston Park, having been a former Newcastle
Falcons captain during his long and successful playing career.
Scoring the winning try for the Falcons in the 2004 Powergen
Cup final, Dowson’s playing career saw him appearing in the
pack for Northampton and Worcester, as well as breaking
into the English national side.
Dowson is in his first full season as director of rugby following
the departure of Kiwi veteran Chris Boyd, in whose coaching
staff he served prior to stepping up.
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