Jonny May admits he has to pinch himself lining up alongside England centre Mike Tindall – but if his current progress is anything to go by he had better get used to it.
The 20-year-old has made quite an impact in the last 12 months with a try in the pre-season clash with Connacht setting the tone for his breakthrough year.
May followed that up with a try on his full Guinness Premiership debut against Leicester Tigers and became a firm fixture in Mark Mapletoft’s Under-20 squad.
And May topped all of that at the recent IRB Junior World Championship with a stunning hat-trick in England’s opening match against Argentina.
Another try followed in the semi-final defeat to Australia but May admits Tindall and the rest of the Cherry & Whites first-team have played their part in his development.
“Being in the first team this year alongside Mike Tindall has been incredible and I have learnt more in this one year than I have in the previous three,” said May.
“I watched him a lot when I was little and now I find myself in the same team playing alongside him, it’s a bit surreal at times.
“It has been a massive step up and I have been thrown right in the deep end but I think I have come out of it OK.
“I am confident in my ability at this level and have improved a lot already but by being in the first team it has also shown me how much more I have to learn. I am definitely not getting carried away with anything.
“Yes it’s good to make a bit of a breakthrough but I still have a long way to go and having this taste of Guinness Premiership rugby has taught me that.
“To score on my Guinness Premiership debut was great and it was an amazing introduction but it was disappointing that it wasn’t in a win. For me it is more important that we win a game than me scoring a try.”
