born in whitley bay, north tyneside, ramage is the son of iain ramage, a former semi-professional rugby union player and international rfu referee, who was scotland's representative at the 2003 world cup. ramage grew up in berwick-upon-tweed, england, but moved to the newcastle area at the age of twelve and attended valley gardens middle school and whitley bay high school. as a youngster, he was with cramlington juniors, the local boys' club, and then joined the newcastle united academy, playing alongside his valley gardens schoolmate steven taylor.