Zach Mercer's inexplicable missed date with the XV de la Rose

Zach Mercer left Montpellier in 2023 because, after two tremendous seasons in Hérault, he hoped to return to the XV de la Rose. To be eligible, he had to play in the Premiership, and so signed with Gloucester. But two years later, Zach Mercer finally chose to leave the United Kingdom again. Alas, he realized he would not be able to reconnect with his international history, which will therefore be limited to two caps in 2018. One against South Africa, the other against Japan. A total that obviously seems very meager given Mercer's talent. "Perhaps my face didn't appeal to them [the England managers, Eddie Jones from 2016 to 2022, then Steve Borthwick] ? Or simply that my profile wasn't what they expected? In any case, whatever, it probably wasn't my story. England has very good back rows, that's how it is..."

A touch of fatalism that can also probably be explained by the fact that his profile as a number 8 player and runner (108kg) was not unanimously accepted by the British demolitionists? Probably, when we know that Billy Vunipola (134kg) reigned over the number 8 position for a long time and that his replacements were generally called Alex Dombrandt (118kg) or Tom Willis (120kg).

"I think that every coach has a profile in mind for each position. Mine probably didn't fit with the English national team. If I had been French, where we like to move the ball more, who knows if my career would have been different? It depends on the coaches, their philosophy." So, after hoping, in vain, for a return to the national team, Zach Mercer has finally accepted that he will probably never embrace a golden destiny with the XV de la Rose. Is this enough to consider that his return to France sounds the death knell for his history with the national team? Or even that he officially retires from international football? "If you were to ask Kyle Sinckler, who has 68 caps and who has truly left his mark on English rugby, it would make more sense. But knowing whether Zach Mercer, who has only two caps, decides to retire or not is much more anecdotal. Let's say that, for now, it's over, even if we never know what the future will bring."

Regrets? "It's not a good engine."

Disappointed but not resentful, Zach Mercer accepted his fate and chose not to let himself be suffocated by regrets, convinced that "it's not a good engine" .

"And then, what's the point? I gave myself the means to apply, by making the decision to return to England to try my luck, it didn't come. On the other hand, I spent two wonderful years at Gloucester, where I loved this club, and especially where I saw the birth of my two children. As for rugby, it took me a while to digest it, but it's now clear in my head: I prefer to give everything to be a great club player than to chase an international career that doesn't want to take off. And, finally, look where it leads me: I wear the jersey of Toulon, one of the biggest clubs in the world, if not the biggest. What more could you ask for?"