Ransom is ready for huge season

FORMER Tonbridge School pupil Ben Ransom has no time to dwell on the breaking of England under 18s three-year winning streak by South Africa, as the 18-year-old packs his bags again for a trip to France with his club Saracens.

He will travel with the first team, they leave on Monday, for a pre-season tour which will see the Aviva Premiership outfit pit their wits against Bayonne and Bordeaux Begles.

Ransom returned from the England under 18 summer tour over the weekend, where they beat Namibia and France easily, but lost 23-17 to the Springboks and the full-back reflected on the defeat.

“We played well as a squad and had most of the possession,” Ransom said. “Things didn’t go our way and they took all their chances when they came their way. We didn’t take our chances and it just wasn’t our day. I didn’t play much against Namibia, but played the whole game against France and did well. We played really well against them.

“I am looking forward to going to France with the first team, it should be good fun. It will be good for all the players to get to know each other, we will be training and playing some matches and also some golf – I don’t have a handicap as I just play for fun.”

Ransom moved to St Albans earlier this month from his home in Otford, as he bids to follow his dream of becoming a professional rugby player at Saracens, where he is on contract for a year.

“It is a big change for me,” Ransom said. “I left school on the Friday and was up in St Albans by the next day. I am living with two academy players at the moment. I am missing home cooking though, I am not very good and I am eating a lot of pasta and mince at the moment.

“My target for the next year is to, hopefully, maybe, get a couple of starts in the LV Cup games in the first team. I will be playing ‘A’ League games on a Monday and also play for Blackheath.”

Only time will tell if Ransom’s target can be achieved, but judging by his rate of progress so far, who would bet against him.