Mercer bags France move

ENGLAND No 8 Zach Mercer has closed the door on his international career by signing for Montpellier.

The 23-year-old’s contract with Bath expires this summer, when he will pack his bags for a move to France. Mercer was tipped as one of England’s brightest prospects after captaining the Under 20s, but he has not been capped by Eddie Jones since 2018. He has agreed terms on a move to Montpellier, whose owner Mohed Altrad told The Mail on Sunday: ‘Zach has signed.’

The French club are looking for a new coach for the 2021/22 campaign and Edinburgh’s Richard Cockerill is understood to be on their shortlist.