All Blacks were deliberately poisoned in 1995 RWC

A former top South African police commander has said that New Zealand’s All Blacks were deliberately poisoned before they played the Springboks in the 1995 Rugby World Cup final.

Rory Steyn who was involved in the All Blacks security at the time and was chief bodyguard to President Nelson Mandela says he believes a betting syndicate were behind the All Blacks being poisoned.

Steyn says the All Blacks – who went on to lose the final 15-12 at Ellis Park on the Saturday – were poisoned on the Thursday before the final.

The Police commander said that after the All Blacks beat England in the Semi-final there was a huge degree of paranoia in the All Black camp which increased as the final approached.

A decision was made within team management that the All Blacks would eat separately in the week leading up to the final away from other guests.

Steyn says that he was against the idea as it would make it easier for someone to target the All Blacks if they were separate from the rest of the guests.

“I said that makes it easier to target them, I didn’t think it was a good idea,” Mr Steyn told the NZHerald.

“On the Thursday (June 22) before the final, which was on Saturday (June 24), they were poisoned. About two-thirds of the squad got very sick, properly sick,” he said.

“I believe it was the water that was got at, because the food that was served at lunch time … was chicken burgers and hamburgers.”

At the time Lomu was the talk of the tournament and all that South Africans were talking about was how to the Springboks would stop Jonah Lomu.

Steyn said he believes the water was poisoned as some of the players who had chicken were sick while some of the players who had beef were also sick.

“I don’t think it was the food, I think it was the coffee and the tea and possibly even the drinking water.”

An investigation was started with a private detective by then All Blacks coach Laurie Mains but this turned up little at the time.

According to the rumours it was Suzie that poisoned the All Blacks.

There was another rumour of a Chilli Sauce that travelled with the All Blacks but was not kept refrigerated and went bad and at the Thursday evening meal the Chilli sauce was shared amongst the players.

Steyn says that even though it has never been proved, ” I know what I saw … A team of guys lying on the floor, very, very ill.”

Steyn added that he does not believe anyone within South African Rugby was involved and that betting betting syndicates as, “The odds were hugely in favour of the All Blacks…..the money was on the All Blacks….and someone wanted to level the odds.”