WHEN MET RORY JONNY
LIKE ANY typical British conversation, talk has turned to the weather. “Every time I used to wake up at the Petersham Hotel in Richmond, I just prayed it wasn’t raining, otherwise it would be a forward game,” says Rory Underwood of his match-day memories with England.
There is also chat about Underwood’s Zoom background – displays of the shirts and caps from his career. Current England wing Jonny May’s collection of shirts is still in bags, but: “My first cap is framed with my shirt. My parents have that.”
With 49, Underwood has led the way as England men’s record try-scorer since retiring 25 years ago. May is a way behind on 33 tries but he is still closer than anyone has got before. We brought the two together to compare notes…
What’s it like to score a try? Is it an addictive feeling?
Rory Underwood: Crikey, both of us, we love scoring tries. You can tell with Jonny. You’re a much more expressive generation nowadays than we ever were; it was a very polite handshake in our day. But it doesn’t detract from the enjoyment you get from scoring tries, especially at Twickenham when you get the crowd roaring, it’s fantastic.
People ask what I miss most about the game. My first answer is the camaraderie of the team you’re playing with at the time. But I must admit scoring the tries is a great feeling and I miss that. Definitely.
Jonny May: I’d agree with that. The tries are the rewards I guess, opportunities we get to take, so they justify the hard work. They are the game giving back to you for all the other stuff we go through. They’re great moments, the tries.
But like Rory says, the main thing is remembering it’s a team game. I build
