Rugby is full of popular myths, but are they all true? We debunk five famous ones in this list.
1. Jonny May and the chicken
The story emerged after Danny Care said: “Jonny is — in the nicest possible way — very strange. A few years back, he used to think he was possessed by a chicken!
“He used to go around clucking and thought this chicken demon was inside him. I don’t know whether it was an act or true — with Jonny you just never know.”
The England speedster has since gone onto respond to the story.
“It’s a bit silly isn’t it? I don’t think at any stage that has happened,” revealed May to the, blushing ever so slightly.
2. Dad's Army
The 2003 World Cup winning side were portrayed as doddery old buggers who got to training sessions using pensioner bus passes.
Martin Johnson's champions were no spring chickens, but they weren't exactly wrinklies either.
Maybe their static game enhanced the impression. But the average age of the World Cup final starters, 28, matches the Springboks' current first XV and you don't see anyone giving Faf de Klerk a walking stick.
3. All England players love Swing Low Sweet Chariot at Twickers
The rugby anthem mysteriously appeared in the early 1990s, and English captain Carling for one said he hated the crowd singing it. The former England captain actually tried to get rid of the song but this was as pointless as trying to stop a Mexican wave and Carling gave up.
4. Rugby was unaffected by the northern league breakaway in the 1890s
The English immediately lost more tests without the uncompromising Yorkshire and Lancashire forwards. A humiliating 23-point defeat to Wales in 1899 began a run of often big losses to the previously inferior Welsh. The politics and economics of the breakaway usually overshadow the effect on the quality of English rugby.
5. William Webb Ellis invented rugby
The World Cup is named in his honour, but there is scant evidence that young William gave rugby to the world in 1823 by illegally running with the ball during a game of soccer at Rugby School.
The initial claim, made after his death, involved mysterious sources and u-turns. Just be thankful that this eponymous sports moment was not linked to his next place of education, Brasenose College.
Imagine following a sport called Brasenose.
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- Jordie Barrett over Damian de Allende is far from being correct. The hype around Dupont is also overreaching, he's probably 4th in the world and has been since the 2023 WC. He also avoids certain matchups which is strange. The rest of the list is pretty good apart from minor subjective biases.JasonMarlow16-09-2026
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