Mercer fires Gloucester to end wait for silverware

Zach Mercer gave Steve Borthwick another hefty nudge as the powerful No 8 inspired Gloucester to a first piece of silverware for nine years.

Mercer, who is hoping to force his way back into the England side, produced another skilful and hugely physical performance as the home side won the Premiership Rugby Cup by beating Leicester.

Seb Atkinson and Cameron Jordan crossed for the hosts who trailed 6-3 at half-time but took a stranglehold on the game in the second half with Leicester reduced to 13 men at one stage with two players in the sin-bin.

A delighted Mercer, who returned to the Premiership from France last summer when he signed a four-year deal, said: “I came to Gloucester to win things. I did that at Montpellier so to get a trophy so soon since I arrived feels special. Now we will concentrate on the league and try and improve our position near the bottom.”

Tigers paid the price for having hooker Finn Theobald-Thomas sent to the sin-bin shortly before the break and then Mike Brown after it. A 6-0 lead turned into a 23-6 deficit as Atkinson and then Jordan found big holes in their defence to cross for tries.

Leicester refused to give up and finished strongly with Gloucester

having Jordan sent to the sin-bin while flanker Hanro Liebenberg reached out to claim a try.

However, some stout defence from the hosts ensured they were not going to be denied their first piece of silverware since winning the European Challenge Cup in 2015. Director of rugby George Skivington said: “It’s a long time since we have won a trophy here so we need to enjoy it.”

Tigers’ head coach Dan McKellar said his side suffered for “15 minutes of chaos”. But he soon fixed his sights on the Premiership’s return next week. “We will dust ourselves off and get back to playing Gloucester at Welford Road,” he said.

Celebration: Gloucester players lift the trophy after beating Leicester at Kingsholm