While he will join Gloucester this summer with the hope of being selected with England for the World Cup, Zach Mercer said he had in mind the idea of staying in Montpellier and assures that missing the next World Cup will not will not be an end in itself.
Zach Mercer does not intend to leave Montpellier on a bad note. After two seasons in the Hérault which have completely revived his career, the English third-line will return to his native land next summer. Indeed, as early as last August, the native of Leeds signed up with Gloucester, a return to the English championship being imperative to hope to play in the next World Cup. A decision that Zach Mercer wanted to take very early “out of respect for the group”. “Jmade my decision during the summer holidays and, from the first day of preparation, I announced it to Philippe Saint-André then to the group very quickly, after trainingsaid the Englishman in an interview with the daily The team ahead of the round of 16 of the Cistes Champions Cup on the lawn of Exeter Chiefs. It was a moment when I was very moved. But, if his future is sealed, Zach Mercer does not want to waste the present. ” I want to win it all “, assured the one who “wants to finish well with Montpellier”. ” This club changed my career “, he assures.
Mercer: “I was very hesitant to stay”
A detour of two seasons in France that the former Bath player absolutely does not regret. ” I arrived here thinking that I was going to play for a year or two, not really knowing what to expect, admitted Zach Mercer. And finally, when deciding my future last summer, i was very hesitant to stay. “But the prospect of playing the next World Cup with the XV de la Rose has pushed the 25-year-old player to favor the path of a return to the English championship from next season, which will allow him to be eligible for selection as of July 1st. ” I showed that I could perform well in a more physical, longer championship, said Zach Mercer. I succeeded, so the next step was to go back to England. “And the change of coach, Steve Borthwick having taken the place of Eddie Jones, did not change anything and even increased tenfold his desire to find the selection. “I have always had respect for Steve Borthwick. The new head of defense, Kevin Sinfield, is also one hell of a coach. Playing under them would be like a dream come true. »
Mercer: “It was I who took a risk by coming to France”
If he admits having had “a long discussion” with the new England coach, Zach Mercer rejects any idea of an agreement with Eddie Jones concerning a return to the jersey of the XV of the Rose. ” It was I who took a risk by coming to France and excluding myself somewhere from the selection, he confided. We’ve had a few discussions since I’ve been here, but since I wasn’t eligible… Honestly, the change of coach does not change anything in my project. “If he admits that his arrival in Montpellier was surrounded by risk, the native of Leeds sees in his late return to England “a bet” for the one who ensures that he “gives himself a chance to play this World Cup. However, claiming to have “still time ahead of (him) to have more selections, Zach Mercer says he’s ready to ‘wait (his) turn’ if he doesn’t make Steve Borthwick’s list for the tournament organized in France next September and October. But, before being called up for selection, Zach Mercer knows he will have to be at club level to convince Steve Borthwick. “He knows I’m not eligible until July 1st so I need to be good enough by then and, if he thinks I’m good enough to be called up, he will. “says Zach Mercer.