French duo set to leave Gloucester

French duo Olivier Azam and Ludovic Mercier are to leave Gloucester at the end of the season to return home, it was reported today.

Fly-half Mercier is understood to have signed a two-year deal with Grenoble despite being contracted to this year’s Powergen Cup winners until 2005, according to the BBC.

Hooker Azam, who is contracted to Kingsholm for another season, is hoping to line up a return to Montferrand.

“There are still some details to sort out with Olivier, but there is willing on both sides,” said Montferrand president Jean-Louis Jourdain.

“Olivier is very motivated to bury the feeling of failure he had when he left the club in 2000.”