Tom May signs up with Northampton Saints – Rugby news
Northampton Saints made an announcement on Monday that Tom May will be playing for the club as a utility back in Aviva Premiership prior to 2011/12 season.
Northampton Saints have strengthened their options in backline for the coming season after the signing of England’s professional and elite Tom May. The 31 year old is a versatile back and will be replacing Joe Ansbro the Scottish centre.
Tom Alexander May is a rugby union player in Top 14, who plays for Toulon. May mostly play as a utility back, but has also been playing at fly half, center and as a wing. He started his rugby from a youth club known as Richmond FC in 1998.
He joined Newcastle Falcons from there the very same year and made his professional debut in 1999 against Northampton Saints. He became a backbone for Newcastle Falcons after he scored two decisive tries in the final mach of Tetley’s Bitter Cup in 2001 against
Harlequin FC and brought the cup home. He has capped Newcastle Falcons in 193 matches and scored 379 points for his side till he played there. The most memorable match he played was against Sale Sharks in 2004 final, which he won.
May was selected by Sir Clive Woodward in London Sevens for England Sevens Team in 2002. He was also named in the international squad the very same year to play against Argentina and Barbarians. He earned his first cap against Argentina and second cap in
Salta. May surprisingly left Newcastle Falcons in 2009 and decided to join Toulon, where he has so far earned 4 caps.
The 5ft 10 in utility back has a wealth of experience at Top 14, European, International and Premiership experience from his tenure at Newcastle Falcons and Toulon. He has played his last two seasons at Toulon and has been a major factor behind the club’s
success rate. He was also named as the player of the season for Newcastle Falcons in 2008 season. So far his involvement in any team has proved to be a good luck charm for the side. Considering the success story of England Saxons, London Sevens, U-21 caps
and the memorable final at Kingston Park in 2004, the above statement can’t be false.
Other than rugby, Tom May was student of business management at the university of Newcastle before joining the field. He didn’t leave his studies and continued both sports and academics alongside. After spending good long time at the French club, the 31
year old May wanted to return to England.
Talking of his return he said, “The experience that my wife and I have had in Toulon was fantastic, but we've been back to England a few times to see friends and family and the opportunity to join Northampton was too good to turn down really.”
Considering where he stands as a player and a Newcastle legend and his desire to return to his homeland, Northampton Saints seemed to be the perfect place. May seems pretty delighted and hopeful with this decision and believes Northampton to provide him
and his family a fruitful future. May said, “I've been watching on the TV the games that Northampton have played in the Heineken Cup and spoken to Phil Dowson and Lee Dickson, and all the things that I've heard have been good.”
Although he is a senior and experienced player, but he expressed that he will be learning a lot from Saints and will become a better player. He believes that clubs like Saints play a very structured game and have a totally different game plan as compared
to traditional French clubs.
Jim Mallinder, the director of rugby for Northampton Saints also approves of this decision as a good sign for the club and May both. He said, “He will bring plenty of things to our squad in terms of both his experience and talent in a variety of positions
across the back line. He has shown how well he can play at centre, on the wing and at fly half when needed.”
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