Pro D2 – Jonny May’s new life in Soyaux-Angoulême

“And congratulations on your progress in French, Mr. May” says the waiter at Jonny May’s favorite Japanese restaurant when the bill comes. Compliments received after a lunch to which the player, accompanied by his wife Sophie, sports coach, and his 10-month-old little boy Jackson – who is more of a fan of tractors than rugby – invited us. As soon as we settled in, we realized who we were dealing with. The waiter who had just taken the order came back a few minutes later to check on something. “Is it normal that we have five menus? ». Yes yes sir, the 24 crab makis are good for him. And the chicken and beef skewers too. Jonny May also serves good French specialties. “I love foie gras, meat, bread and fruit, which are better than in England” he confides. “ Every day before the match, I stock up on carbohydrates, a sort of “cheat meal”. » But, looking at his physique at 34, don’t imagine for a second that he commits excesses without counting. There is no doubt that a meticulous diet has punctuated his life throughout his career. “Before matches, I eat very little and the rest of the week, I eat very precisely. » recalls the adopted Charentais. A diet that he has followed for years and which has allowed him, among other things, to participate in three Rugby World Cups with the XV de la Rose. A calculated diet just like the sports routine from which he never deviates. Lots of stretching, extra work added to the mandatory tasks given by the purple club.

Breakfast and French lessons.

In training, Jonny speaks little at the moment but gives some valuable advice to his teammates during set-ups. He also rooms sometimes. And in French please. “Come on guys” he says in a stuffy-nose tone to make fun of one of his teammates. The whole group bursts out laughing. Its integration seems to be well underway. In any case, he does everything for it. At breakfast, he always sits down with French players to hear, assimilate and understand the language of Molière. He’s already taking lessons, about one a week at the moment. “It is very important for me to make the effort to speak the language of the country in which I live and I am happy to learn French, its culture. » Geography too, which he knows well and which he discovered when he decided to leave Gloucester, where he spent twelve years. Particularly the pretty corners of France. “I wanted to experience new things in my career. When France was mentioned to me, I was thinking more about La Rochelle, Biarritz or even Nice. The living environments are incredible. But in Angoulême, I found tranquility and a really pleasant daily life. » In the city of comics, he takes pleasure in strolling along the banks of the Charente with his loved ones, not far from President Pitcho’s restaurant, where he is accustomed. A good city for her little Jackson too, who discovered French at daycare before even celebrating his first year. But also for leisure and free time, just half an hour by train from Bordeaux and two hours from Paris. A golf course from time to time in which he spends time with his teammates outside the walls of Chanzy or even series and documentaries on sport. “Chasing the Sun?” No, I don’t watch when it concerns rugby”

“Thank you for the offer but I don’t want to waste your time”

Let’s move on to sports. The double Six Nations winner (2017 and 2020) and 2019 World Cup finalist tells us the details of his arrival at the Pro D2 club. And these explanations show to what extent everything can change at the last moment, on a detail, a phone call. “I had a deal in principle with the Durban Sharks. Everything was tied up but I had not received a concrete written offer. An agent called me to say: “Do you want to make a call with SAXV? »I told him “what is SAXV? ». I didn’t know at all. Then, I spoke with Antoine (Roger, sports director), Alex (Ruiz, the manager) and Guillaume (Lafforgue, assistant coach) who I found really cool. But to be honest, my head was already at the Sharks. I told them “Thank you for the offer but I don’t want to waste your time”. One Friday, the Sharks called me and said: “We have a pillar injured for a very long time and we have to pay for it. We need to recruit a new one and our budget can no longer be used for you”. I was obviously disappointed. A few days later, President Didier Pitcho called me and I spoke with his wife Séverine who is an English teacher and who managed to convince me and my wife about life here. We reached a financial agreement with the president and here I am. »

“I wanted to come and play my last seasons and have fun”

Upon his arrival, his captain Gauthier Gibouin even lent him his apartment, while the May family settled in and found their new cocoon, not far away. After the city, the Pro D2 was a discovery, in a championship that he didn’t really know and that he didn’t think about this level of demands and performance. “I was impressed by the level of coaching I must admit. I feared an important milestone between the English first division and the French second division and I was pleasantly surprised. It must also be said that the playing philosophy of French rugby has given me a taste for watching matches again. In England, I didn’t watch at all. Here I look at the Top 14 and Pro D2. The last four, five years of English rugby have been about kicking and defense. I wanted to come and play my last seasons while having fun, playing fun rugby. I’m a winger, I want to touch balls, I want us to make good moves, and I found that freedom here. » Under the orders of Alexandre Ruiz, with whom he signed for two seasons, Jonny May will end his career in a team which plays an attractive offensive game, in which he will be able to flourish. So what could be better than the SAXV, which over the last few seasons has shown this spirit of French flair, travel rugby and ambitions on the field. If his twilight is approaching, May has more than good remains and, like the other English stars, has come to increase the light placed on a division which shows itself to be in constant progress. King of trials throughout his career, May arrived in France for the end of his reign, “God bless the King”.