Tom Mercey
Encyclopedia
Thomas "Tom" Mercey is a rugby union
footballer who plays at prop for Northampton Saints
in the Aviva Premiership.
In 2007 he made his debut for the England Saxons
having already represented England at Under 21, Under 19, and Under 16 levels.
. He was educated at Dulwich College
who he represented at rugby as well as local National Division One side Blackheath F.C., before joining the Guinness Premiership
side Saracens
Academy system. While at school he represented England at Under 16 level.
Mercey began to take part in the main squad in the 2004–05 season, taking part in Saracens 'A' team sides.
This progression continued in the following season when he became a full time member of the Saracens squad while still part of the Academy system on 1 July 2005.
On 21 January 2006 Mercey made his debut for the Saracens first team in a Heineken Cup game against Biarritz Olympique
.
The 2006–07 season saw Mercey make his Guinness Premiership
debut and he went on to make four appearances, all from the replacements bench, and 13 first team appearances in all competitions.
The 2007–08 season saw Mercey making regular first team appearances, including his first in a starting line up for a Guinness Premiership
game.
season.
Mercey was again called up for England U19 duty in the 2006 World Championships, before once again taking a step up ahead of his peers to represent the Under 21 side at the 2006 IRB Under 21 World Championships
featuring in winning sides against Fiji and Wales.
At a national level he moved on from age group rugby to represent England Saxons
in the Six Nations
'A' tournament, making his debut against Italy 'A'
in February 2007. His performance saw him soon in Saxons colors just two months later, as he appeared in every game in the Saxon's victorious 2007 Churchill Cup
campaign.
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
footballer who plays at prop for Northampton Saints
Northampton Saints
Northampton Saints are a professional rugby union club from Northampton, England. The Northampton Saints were formed in 1880. They play in green, black and gold colours. They play their home games at Franklin's Gardens, which has a capacity of 13,591....
in the Aviva Premiership.
In 2007 he made his debut for the England Saxons
England Saxons
England Saxons is the current name of England's men's second national rugby union team. The team has previously been known by a number of names, such as England B, Emerging England and, most recently, England A...
having already represented England at Under 21, Under 19, and Under 16 levels.
Early life
Mercey was born 15 June 1987 in the Tower Hamlets borough of London, EnglandLondon Borough of Tower Hamlets
The London Borough of Tower Hamlets is a London borough to the east of the City of London and north of the River Thames. It is in the eastern part of London and covers much of the traditional East End. It also includes much of the redeveloped Docklands region of London, including West India Docks...
. He was educated at Dulwich College
Dulwich College
Dulwich College is an independent school for boys in Dulwich, southeast London, England. The college was founded in 1619 by Edward Alleyn, a successful Elizabethan actor, with the original purpose of educating 12 poor scholars as the foundation of "God's Gift". It currently has about 1,600 boys,...
who he represented at rugby as well as local National Division One side Blackheath F.C., before joining the Guinness Premiership
Guinness Premiership
The English Premiership, also currently known as the Aviva Premiership because of the league's sponsorship by Aviva, is a professional league competition for rugby union football clubs in the top division of the English rugby system. There are twelve clubs in the Premiership...
side Saracens
Saracens F.C.
Saracens are a professional rugby union team based in St. Albans, England – although they play their home games at Vicarage Road, in Watford. They are currently members of the Aviva Premiership, the top level of domestic rugby union in England...
Academy system. While at school he represented England at Under 16 level.
Saracens 2005–2010
Having progressed through the Saracens AcademySaracens F.C.
Saracens are a professional rugby union team based in St. Albans, England – although they play their home games at Vicarage Road, in Watford. They are currently members of the Aviva Premiership, the top level of domestic rugby union in England...
Mercey began to take part in the main squad in the 2004–05 season, taking part in Saracens 'A' team sides.
This progression continued in the following season when he became a full time member of the Saracens squad while still part of the Academy system on 1 July 2005.
On 21 January 2006 Mercey made his debut for the Saracens first team in a Heineken Cup game against Biarritz Olympique
Biarritz Olympique
Biarritz Olympique Pays Basque is a French professional rugby union team based in the Basque city of Biarritz, Aquitaine which competes in the Top 14 and the Heineken Cup...
.
The 2006–07 season saw Mercey make his Guinness Premiership
Guinness Premiership
The English Premiership, also currently known as the Aviva Premiership because of the league's sponsorship by Aviva, is a professional league competition for rugby union football clubs in the top division of the English rugby system. There are twelve clubs in the Premiership...
debut and he went on to make four appearances, all from the replacements bench, and 13 first team appearances in all competitions.
The 2007–08 season saw Mercey making regular first team appearances, including his first in a starting line up for a Guinness Premiership
Guinness Premiership
The English Premiership, also currently known as the Aviva Premiership because of the league's sponsorship by Aviva, is a professional league competition for rugby union football clubs in the top division of the English rugby system. There are twelve clubs in the Premiership...
game.
Northampton Saints 2010–
On 25 February 2010, Northampton Saints announced they had signed Mercey for the 2010–20112010–11 Guinness Premiership
-Round 1:-Round 2:-Round 3:-Round 4:-Round 5:-Round 6:-Round 7:-Round 8:-Round 9:-Round 10:-Round 11:-Round 12:...
season.
International career
Mercey was first selected for England U19 duty a year ahead of many of his peers, which included four appearances in the 2005 IRB Under 19 World Championships as well as outings in the 2004–05 U19 Six Nations.Mercey was again called up for England U19 duty in the 2006 World Championships, before once again taking a step up ahead of his peers to represent the Under 21 side at the 2006 IRB Under 21 World Championships
2006 Under 21 Rugby World Championship
The 2006 Under 21 Rugby World Championship was played in the Auvergne region of France throughout June 2006. The final was played between South Africa and France at the Parc des Sports Marcel Michelin in Clermont-Ferrand, which saw France win 24 to 13....
featuring in winning sides against Fiji and Wales.
At a national level he moved on from age group rugby to represent England Saxons
England Saxons
England Saxons is the current name of England's men's second national rugby union team. The team has previously been known by a number of names, such as England B, Emerging England and, most recently, England A...
in the Six Nations
Six Nations Championship
The Six Nations Championship is an annual international rugby union competition involving six European sides: England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales....
'A' tournament, making his debut against Italy 'A'
Italy A national rugby union team
The Italy A national rugby union team are the second national rugby union team in Italy after the national side. They compete every year in the IRB Nations Cup.-Fixtures:IRB Nations Cup 2010...
in February 2007. His performance saw him soon in Saxons colors just two months later, as he appeared in every game in the Saxon's victorious 2007 Churchill Cup
2007 Churchill Cup
The 2007 Churchill Cup was held from May 18 to June 2, 2007. It was the fifth year of the Churchill Cup. Six rugby union teams took part: Canada, England Saxons, Ireland A, New Zealand Māori, Scotland A, and the USA.-Format:...
campaign.