No. 8 Zach Mercer has decided to “put to rest” rumors that he will cut short his spell at Gloucester and return to France.
The 26-year-old started his career at Bath before moving to Montpellier after being snubbed by then England head coach Eddie Jones.
His only cap came in the 2018 year-end series, but he was one of the players who paid the price for a disappointing performance against Japan.
Mercer immediately shone when he crossed the Channel in 2021 and Jones picked up the phone to lure him back to the Premiership with a promise of international action.
Coach change
His contract with the Cherry and Whites was confirmed in August 2022, just over a year before the Rugby World Cup, but England sacked their head coach in December.
Steve Borthwick arrived, but he was still not satisfied with the No. 8 shirt and was surprisingly left out of the World Cup squad.
The 44-year-old then left Mercer out of his Six Nations squad and the back-rower was subsequently not even selected for England A's squad against Portugal.
Conor O'Shea, the RFU's executive director of performance rugby, tried to explain his absence by saying they were trying to strike a “balance” between the two teams.
“Some of the players that Steve could pick tomorrow are going to be ahead of some of the players that might be there now. That balance is being struck,” O'Shea said last week. .
“We've said from the beginning that with the young players coming up from the U20s, we want to maintain the link between them and the senior players, and we're starting to find that balance. Listen, at any level. It's a huge honor to play for your country too and this is a big test match against Portugal, but we are trying to find a balance.
“I would say there are a lot of players who look around and say, 'Should they play?'” For every position, as opposed to what would happen if they played in the Six Nations. , it was discussed what would be suitable for this particular match, and also confirmed the most powerful types of teams available.
“That's the rationale behind some of the choices. And Steve might be thinking, 'Are we second on the team or are we third on the team? And we're not in this situation.' I talked to some of the players and talked to them.”
I have sent my resume
However, some believe his departure from the A-side is being taken lightly, with his CV reportedly taking him around top 14 clubs in France.
Marcell has signed a three-year contract ahead of the 2023/24 season, but it is not uncommon for French teams to pay a transfer fee.
Rumors are therefore mounting about a possible return to France, but the number eight insists he is not going anywhere.
“In terms of rumors, there was always going to be rumors that I wasn't going to be selected for the World Cup or the Six Nations. I feel like there's always going to be rumors that I was going to come back.”France ” he said. rugby pod.
“But I have put that behind me and am focused on staying at Gloucester. I still have three years left and I want to make a break there.
“This season we have a chance to win a silver medal, obviously not in the Premiership, but we will fight there and try to move up the table, but in the European Challenge Cup and Prem Cup we have a chance to win something. ”
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