Confessions of a Rugby Mercenary Reviews
Confessions of a Rugby Mercenary
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.
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An honest look at life as a professional rugby player,
A surprising and eye-opening book, and a must read for any amateur rugby player or fan, past or present, or even for any sports enthusiast who wants to a peek behind the scenes of the not-so-glorious life of a professional rugby-man.
Veteran John Daniell keeps it real while recounting his last season in the top French League as a foreign professional rugby player: his experience as a “middle-of-the-pack” rugby player (ie not a superstar) is fascinating if not a little bit cynical. Through his words we get a better idea of what the real life of most rugby pros is like, those who aren’t superstars but have to fight for their contracts and look after themselves and their career, moving from club to club, ie “the mercenaries”.
We get a real look at life at a club of slightly lower standing, where each week is make-or-break for everyone involved. And as a foreigner playing in France, Daniell also shares his perception of the French rugby culture, which, despite its paradoxes and other peculiarities, it is clear he has grown to love and respect.
All in all, this book offers a realistic peak at what a pro rugby career is like in this new age of professional rugby.
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