This post is part of The42′s Facing History series, supported by Cadbury Boost. To read more, click here.
The haka is synonymous with the All Blacks, completely inseparable from their global rugby identity.
Those who have seen the All Blacks performing a haka live often remember the Māori tradition just as vividly as the rugby that follows.
‘Ka Mate’ is recognisable throughout the rugby world, and even beyond it, while ‘Kapa o Pango’ has also been performed by the All Blacks since 2005.
At all tiers of the game in New Zealand, haka are common. Ireland will face the All Blacks’ haka in Chicago and Dublin next month, Munster front up against the Māori All Blacks on 11 November, and Ireland Women take on the Black Ferns on 27 November.
So what do haka really mean?
We asked New Zealand Rugby’s Māori Rugby development manager, Tiki Edwards, to explain the true meaning of a tradition that is deeply rooted in Māori culture.
As the man who teaches New Zealand’s international teams how to perform haka, and why they perform them, Edwards is better qualified than anyone in the rugby world to provide insight.
Thanks to Te Puia, a Rotorua-based centre for Māori cultural experiences and home to a geothermal valley with famous geysers, for allowing filming of their haka.
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“The Aviva Stadium is expected to be at a reduced capacity for the game, in the region of 27,000, although that could change in the event of exceptional demand” surely that’s how it is with moat teams? I’d imagine there will be a lot more of a demand than the 27,000 capacity anyway.
@Dave Murray: I would have thought that certain sections will not be used with restricted capacity, resulting in a smaller staff requirement. If they put all 52k tickets on sale, all sections will have to be available and therefore full match day costs applied.
@Paul Ennis: I get that, just thought it(a little)odd that they would announce a 27,000 capacity restriction before tickets are on sale to the public and see what the demand is etc. But I guess with a short turn around and Easter weekend it could be harder to shift 50,000 tickets and get staff in like you said.
@Dave Murray: EPRC also organising the game rather than Leinster, and they’re shit at running things.
Without being presumptuous – is the semi final
Draw already planned out?
@Daithi Mc Ghiollamhairtin: Yeah. Leinster/Leicester v Toulouse/Sharks and La Rochelle/Salarycens v Exeter/Stormers
@baz dunne: many thanks
@baz dunne: Salarycens hahaha
5 day turnaround with the knock on effect of potential reduced capacity due to the limited timeframe is a great reward for going through as top seed. This is an absolute joke
@Rob Doyle: Your prize for top seed is its at “home” or at least 10mins down the road from it, so be thankful you’re not coming from Welford Rd with a week to plan it!! it does feel too near, be better if a 2 week gap but all the teams that are through are in the same scenario regardless of they seeding. 27k is an average sized rugby stadium, crucially it’s circa 10k more than full RDS capacity, and the fans all know the weekends of the semis well in advance, if not the exact day. I’m not overjoyed by a half full Aviva myself but it is what it is.
Real shame it’s not in a packed RDS, a half full Aviva sucks.
I think we’ll Leinster, Sharks, Stormers, and La Rochelle in the semis.
@Brenda Collins: 3 from URC? they’ll be due an ol restructure soon enough so.