"bull***t" - The Top 5 Crazy Rugby Conspiracy Theories

No professional sport or organisation is immune from wild conspiracy theories that may or may not be valid, and that is true as it pertains to rugby union.

Some of the strange ones that miss out include that Richie McCaw is an alien and that England used blood capsules to win the 2003 Rugby World Cup

This may seem strange, but there were actually theories that Donald actually missed the penalty that decided the World Cup final in 2011.

It's been widely suggested that  Donald actually missed the penalty that decided the final and, paralysed by fear and their innate pro-New Zealand bias, match officials refused to assert themselves.

Is it true? I suspect not. It looks like it glanced off the inside of the right upright, but it doesn’t help that the video is less than conclusive.

New Zealand’s All Blacks rugby team were poisoned just 24 hours before the sensational 1995 Rugby World Cup final which saw outsiders South Africa claim the title, a bodyguard to former president Nelson Mandela has claimed. 

Rory Steyn, Mr Mandela’s head of security during his time in office who the president appointed to ensure the security of the mighty New Zealand national team, said he believed betting syndicates were responsible. 

There have been numerous theories for their collective sickness and one of the most popular is that "Suzie the waitress" poisoned their water in the week leading up to the final game. Others say it was milk. "Suzie" is now widely considered to be fictional but the story of food poisoning is true and any consider it to be conspiratorial in nature.

Is it true? Certainly has legs

Former England captain Will Carling did little for both his clean cut image and the name of rugby when he hit the headlines in mid- 1990s after allegedly having a romantic relationship with Princess Diana. Divorce between Carling and his wife Julia followed and it wasn’t long before the tabloids were dubbing the ex-Harlequins man a love rat.

Is it true? Not really any of our business.

Back in 2002, The Telegraph reported a conspiracy theory that the Premiership owners' attempted to bung Rotherham the best part of £1 million not take up their promotion

The fact that the plan was never carried out because Rotherham failed an audit of their facilities and were denied promotion does not lessen the stink.

You may be shocked to hear that the report names Saracens owner Nigel Wray to be at the heart of the conspiracy.

Is it true? Would love to say absolutely not but it's a reliable source.

A former top South African police commander involved with All Blacks security at the 1995 Rugby World Cup says the team was deliberately poisoned before the final against the Springboks.

Rory Steyn - chief bodyguard to President Nelson Mandela - believes betting syndicates were behind the poisoning. The All Blacks lost the Johannesburg final 15-12.

This is a rugby conspiracy theory that will go on for the rest of time.