# Zach Mercer
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{{Short description|England international rugby union player}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2017}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| name = Zach Mercer
| image = Zach Mercer remise Trophée (cropped).jpg
| caption = Mercer with [Montpellier](/source/Montpellier_Herault_Rugby) in 2022
| birth_name = Zach Ivan Mercer
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1997|6|28}}
| birth_place = [Leeds](/source/Leeds), England
| height = {{convert|1.90|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| weight = {{convert|111|kg|stlb lb|abbr=on}}[{{cite web|title=Kiwis rugby league star's son Zach Mercer poised for England rugby union test debut|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/international/100713836/kiwis-rugby-league--stars-son-zach-mercer-poised-for-england-rugby-union-test-debut|publisher=Stuff.NZ|date=19 January 2018|access-date=26 January 2018}}] He played junior rugby for [Old Brodleians](/source/Old_Brodleians).[{{cite web|title=Zach Mercer International profile|url=http://www.englandrugby.com/england/senior-england-men/squads/zach-mercer/|publisher=Rugby Football Union|access-date=18 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180124214704/http://www.englandrugby.com/england/senior-england-men/squads/zach-mercer/|archive-date=24 January 2018}}] At the age of eight he moved with his family to [Scotland](/source/Scotland).[{{cite web |url=http://www.glasgowwarriors.org/news/13/03/04/honours-even-after-u16-encounters |title=Honours Even After U16 Encounters |publisher=Glasgow Warriors official website |date=4 March 2013 |access-date=26 January 2018 |archive-date=27 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180127083828/http://www.glasgowwarriors.org/news/13/03/04/honours-even-after-u16-encounters |url-status=dead }}] In 2015, Mercer joined [Bath](/source/Bath_Rugby).[{{cite web |url=http://www.bathchronicle.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/highlights-show-bath-rugbys-zach-210086|title=Zach Mercer Highlights |publisher=Bath Chronicle |date=18 July 2017 |access-date=26 January 2018}}]
In September 2016, Mercer made his club debut in a [Premiership](/source/Premiership_Rugby) fixture against the [Newcastle Falcons](/source/Newcastle_Falcons).[{{cite web|title=Zach Mercer – Bath Profile|url=https://www.bathrugby.com/first-team/zach-mercer/|publisher=Bath Rugby official website|access-date=18 July 2017|archive-date=18 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170618151247/http://www.bathrugby.com/first-team/zach-mercer|url-status=dead}}]
In February 2021 it was confirmed that Mercer would join French [Top 14](/source/Top_14) side [Montpellier](/source/Montpellier_H%C3%A9rault_Rugby) ahead of the 2021–22 season.[{{Cite web|title=Zach Mercer departs for Montpellier making way for Jaco Coetzee to join Bath Rugby|url=https://www.bathrugby.com/team-news/zach-mercer-departs-for-montpellier-making-way-for-jaco-coetzee-to-join-bath-rugby/|access-date=2021-02-01|website=Bath Rugby|language=en|archive-date=1 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210201171226/https://www.bathrugby.com/team-news/zach-mercer-departs-for-montpellier-making-way-for-jaco-coetzee-to-join-bath-rugby/|url-status=dead}}] Mercer's maiden season in Montpellier was a success, with the side winning their first ever French Championship.[{{Cite web |date=2022-06-24 |title=Montpellier win first Top 14 title in dominant style |url=https://www.rugbypass.com/news/montpellier-win-first-top-14-title-in-dominant-style/ |access-date=2024-03-30 |website=www.rugbypass.com |language=en}}] Mercer also won some personal accolades, being named in the Top 14 Team of the Year and well as winning the Top 14 Player of the Year award.[{{Cite web |title=Top 14 : le XV type de la saison 2021/2022 dévoilé, avec trois Montpelliérains dans l'équipe |url=https://www.midilibre.fr/2022/07/27/top-14-le-xv-type-de-la-saison-20212022-devoile-avec-trois-montpellierains-dans-lequipe-10459078.php |access-date=2024-03-30 |website=midilibre.fr |language=fr}}][{{Cite web |title=Nuit du Rugby : Zach Mercer élu meilleur joueur de la saison 2021-2022 du Top 14 |url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Rugby/Actualites/Nuit-du-rugby-zach-mercer-elu-meilleur-joueur-de-la-saison-2021-2022-du-top-14/1356268 |access-date=2024-03-30 |website=L'Équipe |language=fr}}]
On 30 August 2022, it was confirmed that Mercer would return to England to re-join the [Premiership Rugby](/source/Premiership_Rugby) with [Gloucester](/source/Gloucester_Rugby) on a long-term deal ahead of the 2023–24 season.[{{Cite news|url=https://www.gloucesterrugby.co.uk/news/zach-mercer-to-become-a-cherry-white |publisher=Gloucester Rugby |title=Zach Mercer to become a Cherry & White | date=30 August 2022 | access-date=12 December 2022}}]
On 9 July 2025, Mercer would leave Gloucester early as he signed a lucrative multi-year deal with French giants [Toulon](/source/RC_Toulon) back in the [Top 14](/source/Top_14) competition ahead of the 2025-26 season.[{{Cite web |last=Evely |first=John |date=2025-07-09 |title=Zach Mercer and Maycos Vivas' have new clubs in France confirmed |url=https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/departing-gloucester-stars-zach-mercer-10331134 |access-date=2025-07-29 |website=Gloucestershire Live |language=en}}]
==International career==
===Youth teams===
Mercer became a Scottish-qualified player through residency and played for the [Scotland U16](/source/Scotland_national_under-16_rugby_union_team) team.[{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/36475784|title=World Rugby U20 Championship 2016: England start Manchester tournament with win |publisher=BBC Sport |date=7 June 2016 |access-date=26 January 2018}}]
Mercer was captain of the [England U20](/source/England_national_under-20_rugby_union_team) team that completed the grand slam in the [2017 U20 Six Nations](/source/2017_Six_Nations_Under_20_Championship).[{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/39304179|title=Under-20 Six Nations: Ireland U20s 10-14 England U20s |publisher=BBC Sport |date=17 March 2017 |access-date=26 January 2018}}] Mercer also captained the team at the [2017 Junior World Cup](/source/2017_World_Rugby_Under_20_Championship),[{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/40264736|title=World Rugby Championship: England Under-20s beat South Africa to reach final |publisher=BBC Sport |date=13 June 2017 |access-date=26 January 2018}}] They were defeated in the final by [New Zealand](/source/New_Zealand_national_under-20_rugby_union_team).[{{cite web|url=http://www.englandrugby.com/news/mercer-and-ibitoye-nominated-for-world-rugby-award/|title=Mercer and Ibitoye nominated for World Rugby award|publisher=Rugby Football Union|date=17 June 2017|access-date=26 January 2018|archive-date=27 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180127083957/http://www.englandrugby.com/news/mercer-and-ibitoye-nominated-for-world-rugby-award/|url-status=dead}}]
===Senior teams===
Mercer received his first call up to the [England national rugby union team](/source/England_national_rugby_union_team) for the [2017 Autumn Internationals](/source/2017_end-of-year_rugby_union_internationals), however coach [Eddie Jones](/source/Eddie_Jones_(rugby_union)) made it clear he would be treated as an apprentice player in the squad.[{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/41758949 |title=Autumn internationals: James Haskell left out of England squad |publisher=BBC Sport |date=26 October 2017 |access-date=26 October 2017 }}] In January 2018 he was named in England's squad for the [2018 Six Nations Championship](/source/2018_Six_Nations_Championship) and was no longer listed as an apprentice player.[{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/42731062|title=Six Nations 2018: England name eight uncapped players in squad for Italy |publisher=BBC Sport |date=18 January 2018 |access-date=18 January 2018}}] On 27 May 2018, Mercer started for England at [number 8](/source/Rugby_union_positions) in a non-test match against the [Barbarians](/source/Barbarians_FC). Scoring a first half try on his England debut, a 63–45 loss for England, against an experienced [Baa Baa lineup](/source/Barbarian_F.C.).[{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/44273946|title=England v Barbarians: Chris Ashton hat-trick inspires Baa-Baas to victory |publisher=BBC Sport |date=27 May 2018 |access-date=27 May 2018}}]
Mercer was selected to make his England debut[{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/46037489|title=England v South Africa: Mike Brown dropped for Springbok Test |publisher=BBC Sport |date=30 Oct 2018 |access-date=30 Oct 2018}}] against South Africa in the 2018 Autumn Internationals after [Ben Morgan](/source/Ben_Morgan) was dropped.
Eddie Jones announced that Mercer will gain his first start in a test match for England in their 2018 Autumn Internationals match against Japan.[{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/46220868|title=England v Japan: Joe Cokanasiga to start Twickenham Test|date=2018-11-15|work=BBC Sport|access-date=2018-11-15|language=en-GB}}]
==Personal life==
Mercer's father is former [rugby league](/source/rugby_league) footballer and coach [Gary Mercer](/source/Gary_Mercer), who played for [New Zealand](/source/New_Zealand_national_rugby_league_team) and the [New Zealand Māori rugby league team](/source/New_Zealand_M%C4%81ori_rugby_league_team).