By Kath
October 21 2010

England & Toulon's - Tom May talks to Unofficial England Rugby.

Exclusive Interview with Tom May 

England & Toulon's 

Tom May talks to Unofficial England Rugby

Tom had 264 appearances with the Newcastle Falcons which he joined in November 1988 from Richmond.  He has played for England 7s,England A and Elite.  

In the 2008/9 Season for  Newcastle Falcons in the Guinness Premiership, he played 21games, scored 5 Tries, 15 Conversions,  1 Drop Goal, 18 Penalties and a total of 112 points.  

He raised over £40,000 for cash for kids by taking part in a 540 mile bike ride to every premiership rugby ground between Newcastle and Twickenham.

In his own words the opportunity to join Toulon in 2009 he said “At 30 years of age, I was never going to get an opportunity like this again to go and experience something new”

Unofficial England caught up with Tom to find out how he is doing.  

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Kath:   First of all Tom, thank you for taking time out to chat to us we really appreciate it.   I am sure many fans will want to know how you are enjoying life in France.   Would you say you are now living your ‘Dream' and have you mastered the language?

It has been one of the best experiences of our lives coming down to Toulon and living here. A fantastic place to play rugby, passionate supporters and a team full of great players. This combined with life next to the Mediterranean, warm weather most of the year and a relaxed way of living means that life for my wife and I is unbelievable here on the Cote d’Azur. The language is fine now and I can hold conversations with anyone I meet and speak to which is great; I do want to keep improving and see how good I can end up being though by the time our stay in France ends.

  Tom May runs on to score the final try of the game. Guinness Premiership - Newcastle Falcons v Harlequins -  Picture by Empics

Before moving to Toulon in 2009 you played some outstanding rugby for Newcastle Falcons at fly-half, a position you seemed to enjoy and grow into.  You have also played Centre and on the Wing and you signed for Toulon as an Inside Centre.   Would you class yourself as a versatility player as you seem to be able to move easily from one role to another? Or do you hate that tag?

I think sometimes being known as someone who can play in several positions helps you and then others it really doesn’t! My number one position is inside centre and I want to be playing most of my rugby there, but if I play some of the games at fly-half then I don’t mind that either. I just want to get my hands on the ball as much as I can and the change to 10 when I was at Newcastle allowed me to do that. That was combined with the confidence that Steve Bates showed in me at the time which made the whole thing much easier. He said not to think too much and to do what I felt was needed. Playing with no pressure like that is amazing for a player and I thank him very much for that.

Tom May, England the Standard Bank Cup - Argentina v England - Old Trafford - Picture by Empics

Your first full honours debut for England was against Argentina in 2009 winning 37-15.  How special was that day for you and is there a moment of that day that you will remember forever?

That was a very special day for me and it is something I will remember for the rest of my life. Every player pushes themselves over their career and aims to play for their country and to have been given the opportunity to do that was amazing. It went by very quickly and there are several things that stand out but one of the ones which was the worst was the fact that I was seeing family and friends outside Old Trafford and didn’t realise the cap presentation was under way! I wanderd in not knowing it was taking place – I had missed my name and tried to grab a chair quietly so no one saw me. Rob Andrew, my old coach from Newcastle , stopped the presentation, called out my name and rather embarrassingly I had to go and get it late!!

Having lived for 10years in the North East of England, do you miss the cold and windy training days?

The short answer is ‘ NO ‘! Waking up every day with the sun shining 90% of the time is amazing and it is underestimated what great weather does to your outlook on life! Having proper summers and training in shorts and t-shirts in December is fine by me!

Toulon's Tom May is tackled by Cardiff Blues Paul Tito (right) during the Amlin Challenge Cup Final at the Stade Velodrome,

Toulon has many star players like yourself, we would imagine at times it would be frustrating not getting the amount of game time you would like.  How do you keep motivated personally?

There are times where you find yourself not playing and I would be lying if I said it wasn’t frustrating. However, we probably should have beaten Cardiff in my view in the Euro Final last year and we finished 2^nd in the Top 14 and you need a big squad to be in the hunt for trophies. Keeping myself motivated is not a problem, I love training and also all of the physical training we do and if I am in a period where I am not playing then I focus all my efforts on bettering myself in other areas.

French club guidelines are required to have a minimum of 40 per cent home grown players, with the figure rising to 50 per cent next year and levelling at 60 per cent in the 2012/2013 season.  This must be a bit worrying for you and the other players that went over to France.  What are your feelings on this?

I wouldn’t say it is a worry, it is something we have all known is probably going to happen and as a player you have to deal with the restrictions that are put in place. I can understand why they are doing it and it will be interesting to see how it affects the game in France.

Do you see yourself at some point in the future playing rugby back in the UK, or are you really settled now in France?

We are settled in France and we would love to be able to stay in our house and live in the sun for the rest of our lives but we understand that we are in an environment where circumstances change and we will have to see what happens for next season.

You came up with a new venture www.everythingrugby.com  a website all about Grass Roots Rugby .  It seems to do exactly what is says on the ‘Tin’, but can you tell us more about the Camps and do you have dates for next year yet?    And what about www.be-fitoutside.co.uk

I think one of the most important things as a professional player is to use your time wisely. Anyone that says they don’t have the time for things outside of rugby is kidding themselves. I have tried to do as much as I can and part of that has been trying to work on Everything Rugby. We are trying to raise the profile of the grass roots game and post news for loads of clubs. We get around 26,000 individual visitors monthly at present. We also have coaching camps which take place in the summer. Clubs can host the camps and they receive a rebate from the profits which aims to help their junior sections. We had visits from professional players at all our camps last summer and aim to do the same again this summer. Any clubs interested should email me.

Be Fit Outside is a bootcamp club which we have started in Newcastle. It is something we are finding is beginning to work and develop really well. We have done some great work wit Royal Grammar School Newcastle for their pre season recently too.

And heads up for fans Everything Rugby has a competition running  Prize of 2 tickets to any Premiership game of your choice on weekend of 30-31/10  Win tickets with Everything Rugby!

Like many athletes and sports personalities you are on  Twitter  you seem really into health, fitness and supplements etc., Do you have a special diet and what is you favourite food.

I would say that Roast Chicken is my favourite meal but we haven’t eaten it much since we have been in France so I look forward to our visits back home.

I am a keen golfer off 22 and I read somewhere you play golf, do you still play and what is your handicap?  

I still play golf but I have not played since arriving in France! I got down to about 14 a couple of summers ago.   Phew 14 is good ...........  

Who is the most inspirational coach that you have worked with or been involved with?

Tana Umaga last year here in Toulon. An amazing guy and fantastic player too.

What are your hopes for the future, do you see yourself coaching in the Premiership at some point?

I have got a few ideas for the future and some of them are related to rugby but I am not sure I see myself coaching at a professional level. You get too much stick!!

I am sure Tom you would be able to handle any stick given (Winks) 

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Tom May: A super guy and an excellent ambassador for English Rugby.  Thanks again go to Tom for taking time out to chat to us at Unofficial England Rugby and we all wish him well for the future.  

Date of birth	February 5, 1979
Place of birth	London
Height	5 ft 10 in
Weight	92 kg
Honours	England

RFU Portrait

England & Toulon's - Tom May Exclusive Interview

Discussion started by Unofficial England Rugby Union , 21/10/2010 12:36

Unofficial England Rugby Union
21/10/2010 12:36

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clutch
21/10/2010 19:57

I find it amusing you told him your handicap!

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UnofficialEnglandRugby
21/10/2010 23:35

Clutch: I don't think you play golf otherwise you would know golfers normally give their handicaps, just one of those things we do.

Pity that is all you can take from the interview.

Reply Quote Report

clutch
22/10/2010 11:53

Overly sensitive. Was only joking. I always ask golfers their handicap.

Have played golf, but it isn't good for my health.

Good interview Kath. In fact, you should replace Sonia Macloughlan and Jill Douglas on the Beeb. They don't know the slightest thing about rugby, and only appear on the Beeb as they are obsessed with equality, ahead of providing a service.

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UnofficialEnglandRugby
22/10/2010 15:33

clutch: Apologies I had not realised my reply sounded overly sensitive, did not mean to be.

Just wanted to explain about golfers habit of asking handicaps and then was a bit frustrated that was the only thing you or anyone else had remarked on.

But thank you I have taken on board your further comments and am really chuffed thank you.

Falclons have said they like it as well on their board so, I am really happy it has gone down well.

Cheers Kath

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UnofficialEnglandRugby
22/10/2010 15:50

PS: Clutch what is/was your handicap then and don't say the wife otherwise the rolling pin will come out

Reply Quote Report

BH90
22/10/2010 18:22

Certainly a good interview, but I'd take issue with clutch's suggestion that Jill Douglas and Sonia McLauchlan know nothing about rugby. That is complete and utter rubbish.

Jill was born in Hawick, and (not surprisingly) has followed rugby all her life. She is married to a former international player.

She has probably forgotten a lot more about the game than many of the internet experts will ever know.

While Sonia McLauchlan may often appear completely at sea, she is also a proper rugby fan, who was often seen as a paying spectator at club games, before she stepped up to her current job.

Whether or not the production policy allows them to come across effectively may be a moot point - but I can assure you that both know their rugby extremely well.

Reply Quote Report

UnofficialEnglandRugby
22/10/2010 18:32

Hi BGF51: I am not getting into the who is best argument here but did you really mean to say this as it does not look correct to me?

Quote:

She has probably forgotten a lot more about the game than many of the internet experts will ever know.

Reply Quote Report

BH90
22/10/2010 19:24

Yes, Kath - exactly what I meant to say. A very common phrase, to describe people who have always had enormous knowledge. Even if they forgot 90 percent of what they once knew, the remaining 10% would still be far more than most other people would ever know, while the vanished 90% would be even further ahead of the knowledge of others.

Jill probably hasn't forgotten much, but even if she lost just 10%, that small proportion of her former knowlege would be considerably more than most of our resident experts could hope to accumulate.

Hope that's clear!

Reply Quote Report

tigeroo
22/10/2010 19:46

Jill is ok, but IMO the sooner the Beeb get someone other than Sonia to interview players the better. I'm sure she's a lovely lady though.

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clutch
23/10/2010 17:23

BGF51 - I have learnt something new today. Thanks.

Maybe it is the Beeb with their dumb down policy that allows them to ask silly questions. Besides, just because someone has watched a lot of a particular sport doesn't mean they know a lot. Plenty of people haven't got a clue what is going. Hence when half crowd boos a refs decision which is CLEARLY correct. I've been watching 20 years and I talk rubbish:-).

Don't have a handicap! Had lessons, love the feel of hitting a great shot. Sadly as soon as I enter a course I become hopeless! The game frustrates me, and after 5 holes I am ready to start crying

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arquero
24/10/2010 10:04

Whenever anyone asked me my handicap, I always blamed the clubs!

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Saint Dom in Hanoi
07/02/2011 23:12

Thanks Kath - an intelligent and thoughtful interview.

For us at Saints, about to welcome Tom here for 2011/12 pre-season, it's instructive to read. Also prescient:

Quote:

Tom May
We are settled in France and we would love to be able to stay in our house and live in the sun for the rest of our lives but we understand that we are in an environment where circumstances change and we will have to see what happens for next season.

and also to know:

Quote:

I think one of the most important things as a professional player is to use your time wisely. Anyone that says they don’t have the time for things outside of rugby is kidding themselves.

At Northampton, he will find friends in other ex-Newcastle colleagues:

Lee Dickson, Phil Dowson and Mark Sorenson. Perhaps it will be the twilight of his career at 32... who knows?

But your interview helps us get to know him - which is, I think, exactly what such interviews should do!


*I could agree with you - but then we'd both be wrong...*

Reply Quote Report

Saint.Kenneth
08/02/2011 08:05

I feel sorry for him. Training in the sun in T shirt and shorts will now be replaced by a beasting by our sadistic conditioning coach in the cold and rain of Northampton.

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UnofficialEnglandRugby
08/02/2011 10:14

Saint Dom

Quote:

Thanks Kath - an intelligent and thoughtful interview.

thank you really appreciate that

Saint.Kenneth: He will relish the training, I think that is one of things he has missed but won't admit to it really?

Saints have a great buy here and he won't let you down. He is a super guy.

I wish you all the best of luck


cheers Kath

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