John Daniell is a rubgy mercenary. A brutal word for an often brutal game.

In 1996, when Rugby Union turned professional, John emigrated to France where he played for a decade in top competitions. His team ricocheted between fear and ecstasy, as they battled to save the club from relegation and their careers from the scrap heap.

Now he lifts the lid on the dark world of the journeyman player, where losing a home game is considered a crime, coaches and club owners will do anything to win, and agents ruthlessly manipulate players.

His compelling confessions are both shocking and funny, taking you behind the scenes, onto the field and into the very heart of the scrum.