Exclusive: Gloucester front-runners to sign Zach Mercer ahead of 2023 World Cup

Gloucester are front-runners to sign Zach Mercer in a move that will allow the back-rower to be eligible to represent England at the 2023 World Cup.

Mercer, named at No 8 in the Top 14 team of the season after helping Montpellier to the title, has made no secret of his desire to resume his Test career and is understood to be close to finalising a move to Kingsholm ahead of the 2023-24 season.

Eddie Jones will consider Mercer for selection in England’s pre-World Cup camp if he is due to be joining a Premiership club from July various teams have shown strong interest.

An extended training camp and four warm-up Tests between July and September would then give Mercer plenty of time to prove his worth and there are precedents for Jones bringing in players before they have played in the Premiership under a new contract.

Ben Te’o travelled to Australia in 2016, Piers Francis was in the squad that visited Argentina in 2017 and Brad Shields faced South Africa after his move from the Hurricanes in New Zealand the next year.

Mercer, a former England Under-20 captain who won two caps in 2018, fell out of favour with Jones following an infamous win over Japan at Twickenham. Danny Care and Alex Lozowski were others to be cast aside in the wake of that 35-15 victory four years ago.

Having traded Bath for Montpellier in the summer of 2021, Mercer has proven to be a huge hit in France. He scored twice to punctuate a phenomenal performance against Harlequins in the Champions Cup in April and added another try in the Top 14 final, helping his side to a 29-10 victory over Castres.

During the regular season, after another meeting between Montpellier and Castres in November 2021, Jones had met up with Mercer.

“I am really impressed with how