You won't have heard of him, but Martin Worthington's travels round France and cross-code antics have earned him a place in our Journeyman Hall of Fame. Just don't mention relegation...

In the third of a series of spellbinding articles celebrating the journeymen of French rugby, we look at a player who has brought nothing but bad luck to his clubs. Le Rugby gives the lowdown on a Scot who was once a professional footballer, and who’s travelled the world to pay the bills. Step forward Martin Worthington!

Born in Torquay in 1981 to Scottish parents, Worthington displayed rare sporting talent from an early age on two fronts. So much so that during his teenage years he was living the dream, splitting his time between Paignton RFC and an apprenticeship with Torquay United FC.

His first big break came in March 1999, when he appeared as a late substitute in a league clash against Halifax Town to make his debut for the Gulls. He turned professional soon after with the monde at his pieds. In a cruel twist of fate, he made just one more appearance in the jaune et bleu, as a substitute. He was released soon after and found himself playing for Bideford Town FC. He began to suspect the dream was over.

In what must surely be the only ever cross-sport, Bideford Town FC-US Mâconnais transfer, Worthington reverted back to le ballon ovale. The move to Macon in June 2000 helped him forget his football woes, it being in the heart of the Bourgogne wine producing region. However, the quality of grape on offer during his stay was not enough to stop him leaving to embark on a whistle-stop tour of world rugby. During the next two years, our fearless outside centre turned out for Coventry, Manchester and New Zealand side Star as well as the Scottish Exiles representative team.

Hopeful that the travelling had come to an end, Worthington headed home to ink a deal with ambitious National League One outfit Cornish Pirates in the summer of 2003. A disappointing season saw his stay restricted to just the one year, as he was made to walk the plank in an end-of-season mass clear out. A return trip down under to New Zealand, this time to play for Mounts Bay on a short-term contract was followed by the chance to return to France. In the summer of 2004 he signed for Fédérale 1 team Montlucon. His time in the Massif Central at the Stade du Diénat was largely uneventful, and he was on his travels yet again at the end of the campaign.

The lure of transport cafes offering huge plats du jour at ridiculously low prices, allied with an abundance of local wine cooperatives persuaded Worthington to jump ship to fellow Fédérale 1 outfit Gaillac in July 2005. His first season at the Stade Laborie-Bernard Laporte was a memorable one, as les Gaillacois beat Limoges 21-18 to clinch the Jean-Prat trophy and secure a place in Pro D2 for the first time in their history. Whether our man ran over un chat noir in the off season remains unclear, but a spell of bad luck was about to begin. On the pitch, the 2006-07 season was a success for plucky Gaillac. An 11th place finish was a fine achievement, one that saw them finish above the likes of Racing Metro 92 and Grenoble. Worthington too fared well, making 25 starts and playing in 29 of the 30 league games alongside Australian international winger Andrew Walker, and bagging three tries in the process. But plans for another crack at Pro D2 were shattered as the league announced that due to financial debauchery, Gaillac would be demoted to Fédérale 3.

With his career seemingly back on track, Worthington shunned the prospect of life in French Rugby's basement and promptly penned a deal with Pro D2 new boys Blagnac in June 2007. Would the move to the Stade Ernest-Argelès be the big break he’d craved for his entire career? Like hell it would. Les garçons d'aéroport toiled away gamely but never left the runway. Despite our man making 25 starts and scoring an impressive five tries, Blagnac finished bottom of the pile in 16th place. Rather than being relegated to Fédérale 1 though, they were demoted to Fédérale 2 on the grounds of yet more financial debauchery.

Undaunted by his magpie image, perennial Pro D2 strugglers Tarbes (ho ho!) signed Worthington in the summer of this year. One of the pre-season favourites for relegation, he could yet face more heartbreak at his latest club as he waits patiently for the phonecall from Frank Hadden. Les Tarbais are currently in 14th place, having won two of their first seven games, with our man starting five of these games. A long season awaits for all at the Stade Maurice Trelut, with the club’s accounts already being closely scrutinised by league officials.

The message is clear to all Fédérale 1 clubs with aspirations of life in Pro D2. If you’re brave enough to take the risk, Martin Worthington can be contacted on 079......