Most rugby players would do anything to avoid getting injured. But apparently, some men are now paying good money to look like they've spent 20 years getting battered in the front row.
Yes, really.
A bizarre trend has emerged in Russia, where men are reportedly handing over cash to have their ears deliberately deformed.
The idea is to get the battered, swollen look made famous by MMA fighters and rugby forwards.
Forget six-pack abs. Apparently, looking like you've survived a scrum against South Africa is the new fashion statement.
You couldn't make it up.
Men paying £120 for bizarre new look
According to reports from Russia, men are paying around 6,000 rubles (roughly £60) per ear for the unusual procedure.
That's £120 for the pair.
Not exactly what you'd expect to find on a spa treatment menu.
The trend is reportedly inspired by MMA fighters, with some men wanting to copy the battle-scarred appearance of their sporting heroes.
But rugby fans will know the look all too well.
Former England prop Graham Rowntree had a pair of ears that looked like they'd gone 12 rounds with a lawnmower.
And he wasn't the only one.
For generations, rugby's toughest forwards have worn their battered ears like medals.
The difference, of course, is that they earned theirs the hard way.
Usually somewhere at the bottom of a particularly unpleasant scrum.
Doctors warn against bizarre trend
The condition is known as cauliflower ear, and it's not something you'd normally put on your birthday wish list.
It happens when the outer ear suffers trauma, often through repeated blows or friction.
Blood can collect beneath the skin, disrupting the cartilage's blood supply.
If left untreated, the ear can become permanently swollen and misshapen.
It's particularly common among rugby players, wrestlers and MMA fighters.
But while some see it as a badge of honour, medical experts warn that it can lead to infection, permanent damage and hearing problems.
In other words, probably best to stick to getting a haircut.
Rugby's most famous battered ears
Graham Rowntree certainly wasn't alone in sporting the distinctive look.
Former England hooker Steve Thompson and Springboks legend Bismarck du Plessis are among the forwards whose ears have taken a serious battering.
Spend enough years with your head wedged between two enormous blokes and something is bound to give.
For most players, cauliflower ears are simply an unfortunate part of the job.
For some men in Russia, however, they're apparently worth paying for.
We've seen some strange trends over the years, but spending £120 to look like you've lost a fight with a scrum machine might just take the biscuit.
Five things you might not know about cauliflower ears
1. One bad knock can be enough
You don't need to spend 15 years playing tighthead prop. A single heavy blow to the ear can cause the injury.
2. Blood is the real problem
When the ear takes a hit, blood can collect between the skin and cartilage. Doctors call this an auricular haematoma.
3. Front-rowers are particularly vulnerable
All that rubbing, pressure and general unpleasantness in the scrum puts props and hookers at greater risk.
4. The damage can last forever
Leave the injury untreated and the ear can heal into a thick, lumpy shape. Hence the rather unfortunate vegetable comparison.
5. You can protect yourself
Scrum caps can help reduce the risk, although they don't guarantee protection. Anyone with a swollen ear after contact should seek medical attention quickly.
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