FOLLOWING a standout season with Tonbridge Juddians, 21-year-old Isaac Ridge is looking forward to testing himself in the Championship next season with Chinnor.
Ridge arrives at the Oxfordshire club after an impressive breakout season, which earned him a place in The Rugby Paper’s National Two East Team of the Season – an accolade he admits caught him by surprise.
The 6ft 4inch, 17st 3lbs second row played a pivotal role in Tonbridge Juddians’ title win, making 25 appearances, but is under no illusions about the step up into the second tier.
Ridge told The Rugby Paper: “I just want to take each game as it comes. Opportunities will come if I go out there and prove myself. When I do get that chance, I want to leave my mark. You’ve got to go in confident in your ability. I’m not expecting it to be anything less than intense, but I’m more excited than anything.
“I was quite surprised, to be honest, to be named in The Rugby Paper’s Dream Team. There were so many great people in that team, so to be named among them is really exciting.”
His performances last season helped fast-track his development in the engine room after a late switch from the backs.
He said: “I was originally a fly-half and centre. Then, Gareth Withers at TJs Academy had the idea to move me into the forwards. I’d put a bit of size on and just picked things up quickly. I’ve enjoyed it ever since. I’ll probably put on another two or three kilos and sit around there. I’ve had to bulk up over the last six weeks, and I’m hoping to keep my size on.”
Ridge is looking forward to working under Chinnor’s director of rugby Nick Easter, who won 54 England caps and was a Premiership winner with Harlequins in 2012.
“I’m buzzing for it,” said Ridge. “I’ve just been so grateful over the last year to be around great people, and adding someone like Nick Easter is going to be really exciting.”
Though he’s relatively new to the forwards, Ridge has quickly carved out a role based on graft and technical quality, particularly at the lineout.
“Lineouts are definitely one of my stronger areas,” said Ridge. “And defensively I like getting around and doing a lot of work. The area I’m working on is ball-carrying. I want to make more of an impact there and get a few more line breaks.”
His route to senior rugby hasn’t followed the usual academy blueprint. Raised outside the private school system, Ridge only began playing in the forwards at age 17 and missed out on traditional Premiership pathways, but still has a burning desire to reach the top.
He said: “It’s been a tough journey at times. I wasn’t part of a Premiership academy, so I’ve had to try and work my way up. But I’m grateful for it because it’s taught me to be more resilient.
“I wouldn’t say coming from a state school held me back, but it’s made things more challenging. Still, I wouldn’t change it. I can’t thank Skinners’ School enough for everything they’ve done for me.”
Ridge hopes the Championship’s new playoff format will bring added fire to the season, alongside new arrivals Richmond and Worcester Warriors. He’s looking forward to testing himself against seasoned names with a Chinnor side that finished 10th in their debut season in the second tier last term.
He added: “I’m definitely buzzing to go up against players like Billy Twelve-trees. You learn so much from going up against players of that quality.
“I haven’t thought about the stadiums too much but Worcester‘s ground would be cool to play at. I played at Sixways as an under-17 in the national final with TJs, so it would be special to go back.”
The best betting sites
