Birth name | Joël Merkler-Pérez | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Date of birth | 25 October 2001 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Place of birth | Gelida, Spain | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 1.94 m (6 ft 4+1⁄2 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 128 kg (282 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Joël Merkler (born 25 October 2001) is a Spanish international rugby union player, who plays for Toulouse. [1]
Started playing in Club de Rugby Sant Cugat and later having rose through the Stade Toulousain academy , Joël Merkler first played his senior rugby on loan for their amateur neighbour of FCTT in Fédérale 1 for the 2020–21 season. [2] [3] [4] Still playing with the espoirs of the Top 14 club, he won the national under-21 championship in June 2021. [5]
On May 25, 2024, Merkler wins the European Champions Cup final with Tolouse 's victory against Leinster (31 - 22) at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. [6] [7]
Merkler made his debut for Spain on 1 November 2021, replacing Andrés Alvarado during a remarkable 20–32 away win over Uruguay, that had just qualified for 2023 World Cup, as the American top team. [8] [9] [10]
A tall and fairly massive player, Merkler is able to play both as a prop (mainly a tighthead) or a lock, higher in the forward pack. [2] [10]