11 May 2006
For 18-year-old Tom Mercey, the Saracens and former Blackheath prop, it’s already been a busy season. Having fought his way back from breaking his leg, Tom made his Saracens debut against Biarritz in January and spent the few months playing for England U19s in their Six Nations before being selected for the U19 World Championships in Dubai in April. If that wasn’t enough, he was invited to join the U21s for the Matt Hampson challenge match where his performance earned him a plane ticket to France.
Mercey, who celebrates his 19th birthday next Thursday, hopes to have something else to celebrate by then. Having kicked off their campaign with a 34 – 8 victory over Fiji, England’s next game against New Zealand on Tuesday could well prove crucial to their semi final ambitions.
Since being spotted by Dorian West playing for Blackheath in the St Joseph’s schools tournament, the powerful tight-head prop has become the latest product of Dulwich College, also known as the prop factory. He hopes to follow in the footsteps of Dulwich old boys Andrew Sheridan, David Flatman and Jon Dawson.
Said Mercey, “I started playing rugby when I was six. A family friend played at Blackheath and, as I wasn’t much good at football, I decided to give it go.
There he stayed, playing at every age from under 7s to under 16s, achieving his first representative honours for the England U16 group A team. “Dorian spotted me playing for Dulwich and although I got injured in that tournament I was invited to England U19 trials and it sort of went from there really.
“I got my first cap against Wales in the first game of the 2005 U19 Six Nations while I was at school doing my A levels.
“The U19 World Cup in Dubai in April was one of my highlights. It was fantastic to beat the South Africans but gutting to lose to New Zealand in the semis.
“I got back from Dubai and was revising for my first year exams when I got a call from Dorian.” Mercey is currently studying for a BA in Management at Birkbeck University in central London. “Birkbeck specialises in part time courses and everyone has been very understanding of my rugby. My tutor has two sons who are professional footballers so she’s been great.
“Dorian told me I was on standby for France and invited me up to Leicester for the Matt Hampson game. I went up for training but had to come home in the evening to revise, then back up the following day for the game and back home to work. I’d done a couple of my exams by the time I got the call to say I was in. Luckily the last of my four exams was the day before we went into camp so it fitted in well, but I did have to cancel a holiday with my girlfriend!”
Tom, who is still eligible at this age group for a further two years, may have made some sacrifices to play rugby but he’s keen to keep up his studies. “If I’m still playing and doing OK when I finish my degree in three years time I’m keen to further my studies. Birkbeck is quite well respected and they offer loads of other courses. At the moment I don’t know where it might take me but I figure as a rugby player if you have a brain and a degree you won’t do too bad.”
With a powerful 6 foot and 100kg frame and a love of scrummaging, it doesn’t take a degree to predict that this thinking prop has a bright future ahead of him.
Ends
IRB U21 World Championship – Vichy, France
Results & Fixtures (times are local, France is +1 hour)
Friday 9th June - England 34 - 8 Fiji - 17.00, Vichy (16.00 BST)
Tuesday 13th June - England v New Zealand - 19.00, Vichy
Saturday 17th June - England v Scotland - 18.00, Riom
Wednesday 21st June - semi finals - tbc Marcel Michelin / Vichy / Issoire
Sunday 25th June - finals tbc - Marcel Michelin / Vichy / Issoire
