TOM RYDER's move to Vicarage may not feature prominently on the list of major summer transfers in the Guinness Premiership but his decision to swap Leicester Tigers for Saracens speaks volumes for the level of ambition currently enveloping the Men in Black.

Leicester have been the eminent club in the domestic game for the last decade and that fact that one of their most promising tight-forward forwards, capped at every youth level by England, has been lured on to Watford on a two-year deal is another example of the persuasive powers of Steve Diamond.

"It was a wrench to leave Leicester," said the 20-year-old. "I was there since I was 16 but I felt it was time to move on.

"I had a few first team games there but I felt it was going to be difficult to get into the team. It's not going to be easy at Saracens as they have three of the best second rows in the Premiership but if I work hard then I feel I've got a chance.

"Saracens are one of the up and coming clubs," added Ryder.

"They are doing really well, they are in the Heineken Cup and I'm looking forward to being a part of their plans."

Ryder was recommended to Diamond by Mark Nelson, a former colleague of Diamond's at Sale who took the strapping second row to Orrell on loan, and it didn't take Diamond long to convince Ryder about the merits of a move south.

"I met with Dimes a couple of times and he was very enthusiastic about the club," he revealed. "He was a big factor in the move. He seems a genuine bloke and very ambitious which is what I want.

"It's been really good so far, I'm really enjoying it," said Ryder on his time so far with his new club. "Things are going well. We've trained really hard and everyone has been really helpful from the coaches to the medical staff to the players. I feel like I've been here for a while now."

Ryder spent four year at Welford Road but made just three first team appearances for the Tigers - the first of which was ironically against his new club at the start of the 2003/04 season.

"It's funny that," said Ryder. "I was only 18 at the time and it was big step up from Schoolboy rugby but I really enjoyed it and I'm looking for more of that."

Clashes between Leicester and Saracens have history of blood and Ryder would probably have afforded himself a wry smile when he saw the giant picture of Ben Russell unfurling a series of blows on Martin Johnson that adorns the wall of the new gym at the lavish training ground in Hatfield.

"Everyone wants to beat Leicester," said Ryder, attempting to play down the feud between the two sides.

"Every game is competitive and against Saracens it is now different."

Johnson has more often that not been at the centre of the controversy between the two powerhouses and his retirement may well defuse some of the tension. Johnson, though, left quite an impression on Ryder.

"He's a player I've always looked up to. He's helped me enormously with my game, passing on tips and advice and hopefully now I can put some of what he has taught me into practice. He's a nice bloke and not as scary as he looks on the field."

Asked if he felt disappointed he was not given the chance to fill Johnson's enormous shoes, Ryder replied: "You always hope that they would give you a chance but, realistically, I wasn't going to replace a player like him. They weren't willing to bring on the youngsters so it was time to move on and I'm glad I have."