Former England number eight Zach Mercer revealed he discussed switching allegiances to New Zealand, but that family ultimately took precedence.<\/p>\n
The Toulon back-rower earned two caps in 2018 and was in contention for a Rugby World Cup spot in 2023, but Eddie Jones\u2019 sacking and Steve Borthwick\u2019s arrival ultimately put paid to those ambitions.<\/p>\n
Mercer signed a contract with Gloucester to return to England<\/a> ahead of the 2023\/24 campaign, making him eligible for World Cup selection, but Borthwick<\/a> never took a shine to the loose forward.<\/p>\n As a result, the 28-year-old once again left the PREM at the end of last season, signing for Toulon and ending his England aspirations for now.<\/p>\n Eligible for the All Blacks<\/p>\n He potentially had the opportunity to switch nations, and represent the All Blacks<\/a>, however, with his father, Gary, a New Zealand rugby league legend.<\/p>\n Having last played for the Red Rose eight years ago, Mercer has comfortably completed World Rugby\u2019s stand-down period and therefore qualifies for Dave Rennie\u2019s side.<\/p>\n According to the back-rower, he had a conversations with Rennie\u2019s predecessor, Scott Robertson, but he decided to not pursue that opportunity.<\/p>\n \u201cI think it was a conversation when Razor was in charge but I\u2019ve got to put my kids first and to move my family to New Zealand isn\u2019t the right thing for what they need,\u201d Mercer told The Times.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cMaybe if I was younger it was something I could have done but, right now I\u2019m settled in Toulon and wanting to play good rugby for them.<\/p>\n \u201cI had Razor as my Barbarians coach, so there was a little back and forth there but nothing that was pursued and I\u2019m happy where I am now.\u201d<\/p>\n