Does the Haka give the New Zealand All Blacks an Unfair Advantage?

A traditional Maori dance, war haka were originally performed by New Zealand warriors before a battle to intimidate the opposition with a demonstration of strength and prowess. Today, the haka is one of the most iconic sights in sport, and still represents the laying down of the gauntlet and challenging the opposition, whilst providing theatrical entertainment for fans. In this blog, Rugby Plus explores the debate surrounding the haka.

Numerous New Zealand sporting teams perform a pre-match haka, which traditionally has great spiritual and cultural connections - the Kiwis (rugby league), the Tall Blacks (men's basketball), the Ice Blacks (men's ice hockey), and even the national lacrosse team - but the dance, in particularly the ka mate haka, is synonymous with the All Blacks.

haka: a pre-match ritual for the All Blacks

The haka is an emotive subject in the world of rugby, and will always divide opinion in the Rugby Plus camp. Former South Africa national rugby union team coach Pieter de Villiers says that people ‘don’t respect it’ anymore, whilst Fox Sports Commentator Greg Martin thinks the All Blacks should be banned from performing the haka, saying, ‘The whole game of rugby is about male dominance over another man, and they're there yelling and screaming and threatening and you've got to sit there and go: “Umm, this'll be finished soon”’.

haka: described by one fan as a 'spiritual weapon'

All nations have cultural dances and traditions – but they leave them on the sidelines when it comes to rugby. Why should New Zealand be indulged when others aren’t? The controversial throat-slitting gesture at the end of the newer Kapo O Pango haka in the video above, performed for the first time against the Springboks in 2005, caused an enormous stir. Haka experts say this motion was originally meant to signify a drawing of breath from the sky to the lungs, while a die-hard All Blacks fan was quoted as describing it as a ‘spiritual weapon’. Perhaps it suited the All Blacks better to leave the message mixed? Provocative at best and menacing at worst, there is no doubt that some other teams feel the haka allows the All Blacks an unfair psychological advantage before kick-off.

However, it’s worth remembering that the All Blacks are not the only international rugby union to perform a pre-match war dance. Tonga do the kailao, Fiji do the cibi and Samoa do the manu siva tau. Maybe we should all give it a go and call it even?!

Whether you love it, hate it, or couldn’t care less, it looks like the haka is here to stay. As Tiki Edwards, Māori Liaison Officer for the New Zealand Rugby Union, says, ‘The haka is a living part of a living culture. It is evolving, just like everything else around us’.

Rugby Plus would love to hear what you think, so join the debate on our Facebook page. You can also check out the great range of New Zealand kit available on our website.