'I loved France as you couldn't get picked for England'

Gloucester number 8 Zach Mercer says he loved playing for Montpellier successful France's Top 14 arsenic you "couldn't get picked for England".

The Rugby Football Union's argumentation of not selecting players based overseas meant that was not thing Mercer had to consider.

Mercer, who collected 2 England caps successful 2018, won nan Top 14 title and was named nan league's subordinate of nan twelvemonth successful 2022 during his 2 seasons successful France earlier returning past play to nan Premiership.

The 26-year-old returned to unafraid a spot successful England's Rugby World Cup squad past autumn, but missed retired connected Steve Borthwick's last squad and has not added to his 2 caps.

"It wasn't nan scheme to travel backmost to England and not play for them. There are nary regrets but what-ifs," Mercer told BBC's Rugby Union Weekly.

"A batch of group opportunity you must regret coming home. Rugby is simply a bigger image and I've sewage an 11-month-old girl now. Could I ideate my woman giving commencement complete successful France and having nary family complete there? Probably not.

"For that facet I don't regret coming location astatine all. I emotion Gloucester arsenic a club.

"I loved France arsenic you couldn't get picked for England, truthful you didn't person nan unit of that and erstwhile a squad is announced wondering if I americium in."

In January, nan back-rower said he was "done" pinch England for now aft missing retired connected action for nan Six Nations.

Mercer, who is known for his ball-carrying skills, added that Borthwick called him to show him he did not fresh into his plans for nan squad aft he spent clip successful England camp.

Toulouse flanker Jack Willis decided to stay successful France and norm himself retired of England action aft nan World Cup past autumn; since past nan 27-year-old has played immoderate of his champion rugby and won nan European Champions Cup successful May.

"You do get work-ons and I was rather nationalist pinch my opinions connected it. Do I regret that opinion? Probably not," Gloucester number 8 Mercer added.

"I person been very unfastened astir intelligence wellness successful rugby. I sewage to nan shape wherever I had to region myself from it and opportunity I was done and that I can't get picked and I tin past effort and bask my rugby.

"That is why Jack Willis is astir apt playing his champion rugby arsenic he doesn't person to interest astir selection."