Coetzee could replace Mercer
Bath Rugby are looking to recreate the winning formula they discovered with Blue, Black and White great Francois Louw according to the latest reports as Stuart Hooper looks to build his squad for the 2021/22 season.
Reports from both South Africa and now England suggest Bath have already found their replacement for expected departee Zach Mercer.
Two cap England international Mercer, 23, is expected to leave at the end of the season to join French Top 14 side Montpellier in a huge blow, but according to The Rugby Paper, Bath will link up with the Stormers’ highly rated back row Jaco Coetzee.
Uncapped Coetzee, 24, can play across the backrow but is mainly used as a number eight where he has starred for Western Province in this season’s Currie Cup competition in South Africa.
However there still appears to be some competition with French newspaper Midi Olympique reporting Bayone are also interested in landing the 6’2, 108kg forward.
Coetzee, who unfortunately got injured this weekend, could provide the perfect balance in the backrow at blindside for Bath, alongside England’s Sam Underhill and Taulupe Faletau, replacing the Welsh great at the back of the scrum when he is away on international duty.
There had been question marks over Faletau’s future at The Rec over the summer with his contract due to expire at the end of this campaign and reportedly a big offer on the table from French side Beziers, but Wales Online report he has agreed a new two-year extension to stay at Bath.
The club have had tremendous success bringing in South African players in the past with the likes of World Cup winning backrower Louw who hung up his boots at the end of the 2019/20 campaign after making more than 140 appearances for the club and is widely regarded as one of the best players to represent Bath in the professional era.