May mulling over next Korea move
JONNY MAY is primed to launch in the Challenge Cup final tonight with a bizarre invitation from the North Korean government hanging over him.
The England wing, who has scored seven tries in his past six games, will be consumed by 80 minutes that will define Gloucester’s season against Stade Francais at Murrayfield but at the back of his mind is an unexpected official request to visit the closed country.
“A few weeks ago, I had a letter from the North Korean Embassy,” he said. “It was a big one in the delivery box here with a ‘private and confidential’ stamp on it.
“It was from somebody who represents North Korea saying they want me to visit the embassy and take me on a tour. My mum is petrified. She is telling me that I need to respond but I don’t really know what to do. It’s still in my pigeon hole. I need to address that at some point.”
The invitation appears to have stemmed from lighthearted remarks made by REPORTS England team-mate Ben Te’o during the Six Nations, claiming the pair plan to backpack around the notoriously secretive state.
“The letter looks legitimate and Ben Te’o had one as well. It’s a bit odd,” said May.
“Ben and I will have a chat about it at some point but it’s parked at the moment because there is too much going on. And there’s too much going on over there. They are all over the news at the moment. But I don’t think I’ll be going to North Korea.”
May’s immediate travel plans will be dictated by success or failure in Edinburgh. Should Gloucester win, they will become England’s representatives in the Champions Cup play-offs at the expense of Northampton.
May believes the play-offs – which also involve Connacht, Cardiff Blues and Stade thanks to their seventh-place finish in the French Top 14 – should be scrapped, with the last qualifying spot going straight to the Challenge Cup winners instead.
“The format does need to be looked at because it’s a bit odd to win this game and then get two more at the end of a long season,” said May.
“Some boys are moving on – it messes that up for their new clubs – some boys are going on tour, it’s tough for us to get our heads around.
“Northampton are sitting there waiting to see if we win or lose, not sure what to do. It is a bit strange.”
For the Cherry and Whites, the play-offs remain the only route available into Europe’s top-tier competition after their ninth-place finish in the Premiership at the end of a campaign described as “bipolar” by hooker Richard Hibbard. “The table doesn’t lie but we’ve beaten Wasps and Saracens, drawn with Exeter, and we’ve beaten La Rochelle away – no other team have done that,” said May. “We know we can do it and that’s what makes this final exciting for us. It gives us the opportunity to get something out of this season.” For Stade, the final presents a chance for silverware in a turbulent campaign overshadowed by a mooted merger with Racing 92, which has now been scrapped. “We’re very motivated,” said Stade skipper Sergio Parisse. “This season has been very difficult but we must not forget the journey we made to qualify for this final. “We remained united through adversity this season. We deserve to be here.”