NICK VERDIER meets the France centre who has rediscovered his passion for the game

The sea, the sun, the trophies, Maxime Mermoz appeared to have it all. But underneath all that glitter it was a different story and he reveals how a recent family tragedy reminded him of just why he was playing rugby in the first place.
When the international centre joined Toulon from Perpignan in 2012, he told The Rugby Paper the chance to win trophies was what brought him to the Cote d’Azur and, three Heineken Cups and one Top 14 title later, it is fair to say he succeeded in his quest.
But things c...