Player Profile : Tom May BORN : 5/2/79 BIRTHPLACE : Dulwich (South East London) HEIGHT : 5' 10'' WEIGHT : 14st 7lb POSITION : Centre

Shortly after Tom May's first training session with the Falcon's senior squad Tony Underwood was approached by a group of fans and asked "Who is the new centre?" Tony is reported to have replied "I don't know his name but he is just like a young Scott Gibbs". The way things are going Tony could well be right.

Born in London in March 1979 Tom was educated at Tonbridge School in Kent and in 1997 played centre for England Schools alongside a certain Jonny Wilkinson. After leaving school he took a year out to teach at a London prep school and joined Richmond, although the closest he got to the first team was a place on the subs bench. He did, however, add an England Colts cap to his representative honours during the 1997/98 season.

It was at this time that Tom was spotted by Paul McKinnon, the Falcon's Development Team Manager and knowing that Tom intended to go on to take a degree Paul invited Tom to have a look round the Falcons at the same time that he cast his eyes over Newcastle University. Tom decided they were both for him.

Tom made his debut for the Falcons as a second half replacement for Martin Shaw in the 33-29 Cheltenham and Gloucester Cup victory against Bath on 7 March 1999 and then made his first starting line up against Swansea in an Anglo-Welsh fixture the following week. He scored his first Falcons try in the infamous "lost on tries countback" C&G semi-final against Bedford on 21 March 1999 and made his Premiership debut away to Northampton six days later [the least said about that game the better].

He appeared for the first time in a home Premier fixture against Gloucester on 25 April 1999 when he gave a blistering performance in both attack and defence, earning himself the "Man of the Match" award. We suspect it will not be his last. At the end of the 1998/9 season May took his place in the Newcastle starting line up in the Tetley's Bitter Cup Final at Twickenham which he has since stated to be his best moment as a rugby player.

The 1999/2000 season has seen Tom on the England Under 21's squad and putting in many good performances for the Falcons with himself and his centre partner Jamie Noon making inspired breaks like that of his solo try against London Irish at Kingston Park on the 18th of April 2000. Tom also played well for his University side of Northumbria where the squad beat Loughborough University on the Twickenham stage to take the British University title. His performances for the Falcons and Northumbria University have earned him the opportunity to take part in the Falcons Under 21's tour of New Zealand this summer. Good luck!!