Aurélien CANOT, published on Monday February 01, 2021 at 20:12
Called to lose Louis Picamoles, Montpellier has found its replacement. This is the young English international third row from Bath Zach Mercer (23).
The MHR does not deny itself anything. While Louis Picamoles, whose contract will expire at the end of the season, should in all likelihood set course for the Gironde and the Bordeaux-Bègles club, Montpellier, looking for a new third row to replace the French international, has pulled off a superb blow on the transfer market. Picamoles, whose departure from UBB should be quickly formalized (according to several sources, the former Northampton player has already signed his lease with the Girondins), will indeed cross the road in the offseason of one of the best players of the moment at his post: Zach Mercer (23). The Bath club, which Mercer currently wears, announced on Monday that the young English international and huge hope of British rugby would take the direction of Hérault next season. “Bath Rugby can confirm today (Monday) that Zach Mercer will leave the club at the end of the season and join the Top 14 club Montpellier,” reveals the English club, who could also have added that Mercer, who played in Bath since his professional debut five years ago, will make his big debut in the French Championship.
Mercer: “It was impossible to refuse”
“It was impossible to refuse a contract of several years in Montpellier and I will be eternally grateful for the way the negotiations went with Stuart Hooper (his coach). The club benefits from an excellent group of players and I am sure that they will accomplish great things ”, confides on the site of Bath Rugby the player with the two selections with the XV of the Rose, in 2018. By leaving the current one 9th in the Premiership ranking, Mercer also leaves room for South African Jaco Coetzee, who will land from the Stormers (Cape Town). While waiting for Mercer’s arrival next season, the MHR had registered last November the reinforcement of another third line, in the person of Marco Tauleigne, arrived from the UBB.
––