VIDEO: Per Mertesacker leading the line-out as Arsenal players undergo a bout of rugby

We want a 7 Nations tournament and we want Per Mertesacker contesting a line-out with Paul O'Connell.

(Please don't retire, Paul...) The Arsenal centre half was lording the aerial stakes again this afternoon, but this time he was doing it with an oval ball. Arsene Wenger's side were unwinding ahead of their all-or-nothing second leg Champions League clash in Monaco by playing a bit rugby. The Rugby World Cup Twitter account posted this slow motion video of Wojciech Szczesny hoisting his defender into the air to fetch a line ball as the in-form Arsenal look unfazed about the task ahead of them. Big Mertesacker might well have hung up the international football boots but perhaps, just perhaps, he has a future with the German rugby side. Anyone could, right? Wonder what Jose Mourinho thinks of this momentum.

SLOW MO @mertesacker: We've been filming with @arsenal and @emirates and may have found a new star for @DRVRugby ... https://t.co/LsAe2sIjcF

— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) March 16, 2015