TOM May has denied that a mounting player exodus convinced him to quit Newcastle Falcons.

May, who will make his final Falcons appearance in tomorrow’s game at Harlequins, will leave Kingston Park to move to France this summer, with Super 14 side Toulon expected to confirm his signature.

The versatile back is one of at least six senior players expected to quit at the end of the season, with Jonny Wilkinson and Jamie Noon poised to join Phil Dowson, Geoff Parling and David Wilson on the list of departees.

With Mathew Tait and Toby Flood having been sold last summer, Newcastle chairman Dave Thompson is overseeing a radical overhaul of the club’s playing staff.

But as he prepares to bid farewell to Falcons after 265 appearances, May has denied that other transfer dealings influenced his decision to cross the Channel.

“It’s not really a case of ‘Everyone’s going, so I’m going too’,” said May, who is Newcastle’s leading points scorer this season. “It was more a case of getting what was an unexpected offer to go and have a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

“The club and all of the players have been really good in understanding what position I have been put in, and how difficult a decision it was. Batesy (Steve Bates) and Thommo (Thompson) have been fantastic throughout the whole process.

“They didn’t want me to go, they made that very clear, but equally they understood the opportunity that was being handed to me and didn’t stand in my way.

“Obviously some of the other guys are leaving, but the nucleus remains at Kingston Park and the club looks to be in good shape in signing quality players like Filipo Levi and the others they are talking to.”

Born in London, May joined Falcons from Richmond in 1998 and will look back on his time in the North- East with a mixture of pride and satisfaction.

“I think winning the two Cup finals would obviously have to be classed as major highs,” said May. “But to be honest, some of the best memories I have are of games that people might have forgotten, like beating Toulouse here at Kingston Park, playing at Parc des Princes in a Heineken Cup quarter-final and just experiencing the ups and downs with the supporters and a great group of really close mates.

“There have been some very tough times in amongst that, but like we’ve seen this season, there is a group of players here who really play for each other.

“I appreciate that the team will move on after I’ve left, but I’ve married into the Geordie race and I’d love to come back one day.’’