Rugby World Cup 2019: May reveals how meal with parents prompted successful England career

Jonny May reflected on how a decision to snub a team night out in favour of dinner with his parents paid huge dividends as he prepares to celebrate winning a 50th England cap.

The Leicester Tigers flyer made his international debut over six years ago during a tour of Argentina, when the majority of the team was on British and Irish Lions duty.

May was overlooked for the first Test in favour of David Strettle and Christian Wade and had initially missed out on selection for the second game before the latter was drafted to Australia with the Lions.

It is here where fate was on the side of May, who had shunned a drinking session with the players not in the matchday squad the night before the game in favour of a more serene evening.

“Funnily enough Christian Wade got called up for the Lions on the morning of the game,” said May. 

“And basically because my mum and dad were out and I went out for dinner with them and all the other non-23 players went out on the p***, so I got the ‘go on you can play’ pretty much! It’s funny how it works out.

“I didn’t feel ashamed but I didn’t feel great because my parents were out there and it looked like I wasn’t going to get a game. 

“What was probably quite a challenging couple of weeks finished on a really good note as my parents got to watch me play and I got my first cap. It all worked out in the end.”

With Jonny May fast approaching his 50th England cap, we caught up with the @LeicesterTigers wing to see how years of hard work spent improving his athleticism and rugby expertise are paying off for club and country: https://t.co/23WPP5fSHG pic.twitter.com/IG7R4fPwKz

— England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) October 15, 2019

It took May until his eighth cap to score a first England try but his strike rate is now an impressive 25 in 49 Tests.

The 29-year-old has established himself as one of the best wingers in world rugby and could make his landmark England appearance in the Rugby World Cup quarter-final against Australia in Oita on Saturday.

Any personal achievements are on the back burner for May, though, whose sole focus is on helping the team defeat the Wallabies.

“If you take a step back, you’d say it’s an awesome achievement, something I’m very proud of and hopefully I’ve made my family proud,” he added. 

“But it’s no time to take a step back. It’s a huge team game at the weekend.

“It really has been a challenge. You have to fight to be a part of the squad, let alone to start. My mindset has changed so much on that, especially with Eddie [Jones] coming in. 

“It’s a squad performance. We’re competing to be the best we can be, we’re not competing with each other.

“I have changed a lot, not just as a rugby player but as a person. I have matured. I have become more focused, maybe a little bit more introverted as the years have gone on.

“I’m not necessarily at a stage now where I’m working harder but I’m working smarter, just to keep developing and improving.”

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