Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Spurned England No8 Zach Mercer linked with Top 14 U-turn - report

Gloucester's Zach Mercer during the Premiership Rugby Cup Semi Final match between Gloucester Rugby and Exeter Chiefs at Kingsholm Stadium on February 17, 2024 in Gloucester, England. (Photo by Bob Bradford - CameraSport via Getty Images)

After only signing for Gloucester at the beginning of the season from Montpellier, No8 Zach Mercer is already attracting the interest of several Top 14 clubs over a possible return next season.

ADVERTISEMENT

According to a report in Midi OlympiqueRacing 92, Toulon and his former club Montpellier are all looking into signing the 26-year-old.

This comes after the former Top 14 player of the season missed out on the England A squad that will take on Portugal on Sunday at Welford Road.

Video Spacer

Handre Pollard on that RWC semifinal and Pieter-Steph du Toit’s inspiring speech | RPTV

Double World Cup-winning Springbok flyhalf Handre Pollard lifts the lid on a crucial half-time chat during last year’s RWC in France. Watch the full interview exclusively on RugbyPass TV

Watch now

Video Spacer

Handre Pollard on that RWC semifinal and Pieter-Steph du Toit’s inspiring speech | RPTV

Double World Cup-winning Springbok flyhalf Handre Pollard lifts the lid on a crucial half-time chat during last year’s RWC in France. Watch the full interview exclusively on RugbyPass TV

Watch now

Mercer returned to Gloucester at the end of last season with the aim of making England’s World Cup squad and was tipped by many to do so. However, he was a shock omission from Steve Borthwick’s initial 41-player training squad. His exile continued this Guinness Six Nations, and his exclusion from the England A squad was a further damaging blow.

Given his history in the Top 14 – not only being named player of the season in 2022, but also winning the title that year – it is unsurprising so many clubs in France are interested in the two-cap England international.

After signing a long-term deal with Gloucester, any potential buyer would have to pay a hefty fee to recruit Mercer. With wage constraints already being an issue for Racing 92 with the arrival of Owen Farrell, the report says the Parisian club are unlikely to pursue him. It also says that Toulon already have enough options in the back row.

Mercer gave no indication that he was ready to leave the Cherry and Whites on Saturday despite his England struggles, as he put in a player of the match performance in their win over the Exeter Chiefs to book their place in the Premiership Rugby Cup final.

ADVERTISEMENT

The No8 earned the last of his two caps in November 2018 as a 21-year-old.

Related

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

5 Comments
C
Colin 262 days ago

Apart from the match last weekend he has been unremarkable playing for Gloucester.

S
Sumkunn Tsadmiova 262 days ago

Yes, always seemed like the England management weren’t totally convinced of his full commitment to the cause. If these reports are true then their doubts seem well founded…

Load More Comments

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

T
TT 1 hour ago
'No, it’s not, that’s the truth' - Andy Farrell rubbishes Ireland subplot

ABs by 4……


IF

The Razor gang has given the AB’s a game plan A, B, C & etc (unlike so many AB games since 2016). &


IF

AB’s play 80+ minutes. &


IF

ABs do their individual & team jobs error free (‘ish)  (unlike so many AB team since 2016). &


IF

All the ‘critical V Ireland’ AB form mobile forwards stay on field for the 80min S.Barrett, Sititi, Savea, and Vaa’i swap with Cane when he tires & Tuipulotu comes on. Finau back up. &


IF

The 10's get a better ‘cunning game plan’ than BB, ie his kicky, kicky, kicky, kicky, kicky, kicky, kicky, ETC! (& MacK does have a better game plan). &


IF

Aumua can throw to lineouts . &


IF

The AB’s can remember their lineout calls (unlike too many V England games 1, 2 & 3). &


IF

Williams can be coached to stop being sucked into experienced tactics to drop him to the ground. &


IF

The AB coaches, teach all ABs some ‘soccer like’ drama queen fouling acting skills to make clear to the ref 1 of the most common Irish tactics ie obstruction by ‘stray’ decoy attackers around contact zone (tackle, ruck, maul). &


IF

The ABs have their arm out away if not tackling any, again, decoy attackers  (or defenders) that run into them to try milk penalties as England did (eg penalty  against  Cane the worst). &


IF

S.Barrett can change & captain with assertiveness & presence to even be noticed by the ref (way to passive). &


IF

There's no food poisoning.

7 Go to comments
J
JW 1 hour ago
How can Scott Robertson revive the All Blacks’ playmaking ‘triple threat’?

HAHA don't ask me that! You tell me, if McMillian was the AB coach would he be selecting Dmac over Mo'unga!?!


Look, Dmac is clearly first choice. Razor said BB was a selection "just for this game", Dmac was always leading the two big ones. They rotated BB and Mounga the same way in 22.


Firstly, I'm a fan of BB when he's not gun shy. Do I think he's a first five? Of course not, he can hardly pass the ball 5 meters. Do I think he's likely to play again after being concussed? No, end of discussion.


Do I hate Mo'unga? No, of course not. He was the only reason we got within cooee of SA, him finding his footing at International level was their main reason for success. Do I think that resulted in him being a game orchestra or having played well in black the years prior to that? Of course not. Maybe you were just on the end of the better AB performances fran, outside of those games I'd suggest he wasn't as influential as you think. He has a good kicking game for sure, but it's certainly not up there with Carter or even some current 10s, and it's certainly not much better than DMac's (understand you own opinion still won't say that) despite him having a lot more development and experience.


He would obviously get a great opportunity from Razor if he came back, and DMac would possibly find he can be a good fullback or bench player under Razors guidance, but if you're wrong and Dmac actually performed better than Richie running the show, then he'll having Damien as his 10 come RWC time.


TLDR, JWH is a Cantab, Richie is one of my favourite players, we just think you've got the wrong context in this article and I think you're way off the mark on Richies strengths.

44 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ Mutual regard makes way for enmity as the flames of a very modern rivalry are fanned Mutual regard makes way for enmity as the flames of a very modern rivalry are fanned
Search