#4. Zach Mercer
- Age: 25
- Position: Number 8
- Honours: England, England U20, England U18
“I grew up in Scotland and I qualified to play on residency so that’s what I did,” Mercer said.
“I played for Scotland’s U16s because, at the time, I just wanted to play international rugby and to test myself against the best.
“I tried to get into the Scotland U18s a year early but I didn’t get selected. The next year came around and I was gunning to play [for Scotland U18s]. Around the same time, I was looking at some different contracts and that’s when Bath offered me one. When you’re offered a contract by a team like that, you’d be stupid to turn it down so, of course, I accepted it.
“Unfortunately, that was when the coach of the Scotland U18s called me and told me he wasn’t going to pick me because I hadn’t committed to Scotland and to Scottish rugby.
“I remember that day pretty well, because, 20 minutes later, when I told the England U18s head coach I hadn’t been picked, he just said: ‘Come down and play for us then’.”
“After that, my first game for England U18s was against Scotland. Honestly, you couldn’t write it.”