Bath have announced that Zach Mercer has signed a new two-year deal to extend his contract at the Rec until the end of the 2020/21 season.
Mercer, 21, made his debut for the Premiership side in 2016 and has gone on to make 38 appearances at back row.
His form for Bath last season earned Mercer a call-up to Eddie Jones’ Six Nations squad. Although he didn’t appear in the tournament, he went on to make his England debut against the Barbarians in May.
Mercer, who is a product of Bath’s academy, said there wasn’t a better place to continue his development.
“It’s a really exciting time to be part of this club, and our challenge now is to make sure we’re up there competing with the best in the Premiership and Europe,” Mercer said.
Todd Blackadder, Bath’s Director of Rugby, added that Mercer was a “huge talent”.
“Over the last two years, he has worked incredibly hard at all the aspects of his game,” Blackadder said. “This has paid dividends and is clear to see in his dominant performances. He has got all the attributes to become a world-class player, and it’s great to know that he sees Bath as the place to do that.
“With the likes of Toby (Faletau) and Francois (Louw), he’s got some of the best players to learn from and I’m sure he’ll continue to thrive in this environment over the next three years.”