All this for… nothing. Voted best player in the Top 14 during the 18th Rugby Night in 2022, the English third-row center, who had been crowned champion of France with Montpellier, had chosen to leave the MHR in June 2023 to return to England and apply so at the World Cup. A selection that the former coach of the XV de la Rose, Eddie Jones, had dangled to him. Except that the latter ultimately did not give him a chance, before being sacked and replaced by Steve Borthwick who had not used the services of Zach Mercer, now playing at Gloucester.
Once again not selected for the Six Nations Tournament, despite a number 8 position still in search of an indisputable holder, Zach Mercer let his frustration explode at the BBC microphone. “I’ve been open with Steve, told him my opinion on it. I think I wasn’t really given a chance. Not having had any playing time to try to prove myself is difficult. Coming back and only having three weeks of training camp, I was really disappointed…”
U20 world champion with England in 2016, therefore decided to turn the page. “I don’t feel like the manager appreciates what I can offer as a player and, to be honest, I don’t think he appreciates what I can bring. Obviously, I don’t fit into the system he wants to put in place and whether I agree or not, that’s the way it is. So I’m done for the moment,” announces the player who prefers to withdraw from the selection to concentrate on his club performances.
