England fans urge RFU to relax rules for number 8 who 'can now swap nations'
Rugby NewsSaturday, 25 June 2022 at 09:11
Back rower Zach Mercer won the last of his two England caps in 2018 and has been out of contention since joining French big-spenders Montpellier from Bath last summer.
Mercer, 24, has been in the form of his life and was named players of the match as his side romped to the Top14 title with a 29-10 win against Castres.
As a result, the Rugby Football Union's policy of not allowing foreign-based players to be picked has come back onto the agenda, especially due to the absence of Alex Dombrandt and Sam Simmonds due to injury.
Even worse for England, due to the length of time since his last cap, Mercer could now realistically swap nations prior to the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
Mercer is the son former rugby league footballer and coach Gary Mercer, who played for New Zealand and the New Zealand Māori rugby league team.
He would therefore be eligible to play for the All Blacks if he moved there while he also previously played for Scotland U16 in his younger days.
DID YOU KNOW? Mercer is of Māori ancestry
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4 players you didn’t know could swap nations in 2022, including Danny Cipriani
#1. Matt Kvesic
- Age: 29
- Position: Back-row
- Current number of caps: 4
- Last cap: September, 2019
- Did you know? Born in Germany to English parents, Kvesic made his senior debut for Worcester in the Anglo-Welsh Cup against the Scarlets on 14 November 2009, becoming the youngest player to represent the Warriors in the professional era
Exeter Chiefs player Matt Kvesic during the warm up before the Gallagher Premiership rugby game between Sale Sharks and Exeter Chiefs at JW Bell Stadium on March 2nd - PHOTO: Steve Bond/PPAUK
#2. George McGuigan (England Saxons to Ireland)
- Age: 29
- Position: Hooker
- Current number of caps: 2
- Last cap: June, 2016
- Did you know? McGuigan represented Ireland U18 and U20 before switching his allegiance to England
The 28-year-old, who is the second top try-scorer in the Gallagher Premiership with 14, continues to be overlooked by England boss Eddie Jones. Munster, who want to strengthen their hooking options, are now reportedly keeping tabs on the Newcastle Falcons’ ace according to The Rugby Paper.
#3. Jack Dempsey (Australia to Scotland)
- Age: 28
- Position: Number 8
- Current number of caps: 14
- Last cap: October, 2018
- Did you know? A keen all-round sportsman, Cipriani played junior football for Queens Park Rangers and was offered youth terms by Reading
Interestingly, the Wallabies number 8 will become eligible to play for Scotland less than three weeks before they take on Australia in October during the 2022 Autumn Nations Series.
#4. Danny Cipriani (England to Trinidad & Tobago)
- Age: 34
- Position: Fly-half
- Current number of caps: 16
- Last cap: June, 2018
- Did you know? A keen all-round sportsman, Cipriani played junior football for Queens Park Rangers and was offered youth terms by Reading
It’s suggested that the switch could be funded by World Rugby, who are looking to encourage former elite rugby players to represent third tier nations to help raise the sports profile in that country.
Cipriani has been heavily linked with a move to Major League Rugby in the USA after the fly-half confirmed he will be heading 'to a new country' following his departure from Bath at the end of the season.
The 34-year-old’s father is Afro-Trinidadian with some Italian heritage while his mother is English. They’re currently ranked 53rd in the world.
Bath Rugby player Danny Cipriani during the Gallagher Premiership rugby game between Leicester Tigers and Bath Rugby at Mattioli Woods Welford Road on Nov 5th - PHOTO: Steve Bond/PPAUK
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