Do you believe the All Black Haka has a place in modern international rugby?

Question

For that matter does Tonga's Sipi tau, Samoa's Sivi tau or Fiji's Cibi have a place in modern rugby as well?

Answer 1

off course its the only thing worth watching lol ....

i think every country should do there own war cry dance ..Scotland should do a mock highland charge

  England should do a mock wellington rifle wall

  South Africa should do a Zulu war dance

  Australia should do an Aboriginal war dance

  and the dream goes on...............

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Answer 2

Give yourself an uppercut for asking that! It wouldn't be the same without it.I am an Aussie BTW, & it's one thing I look forward to seeing when we play the All Blacks. KEEP IT!!!

Answer 3

I'm not a NZer, I'm American but I'm half Samoan so I'm probably still biased but..

I think the Haka is really unique and fun to watch.  I'm a girl and I hate pretty much all sports except rugby, especially the All Blacks and other South pacific teams.  What drew me in to want to watch the game was seeing them perform the Haka.

As for Tonga, Samoa, and Fiji I think it's just as fun/unique and a great representation of our/their culture!  Everyone I know who's not Polynesian who has been over my house while my dad was watching the game were really intrigued by the Hakas and found them really interesting to watch

With that said, yes I believe they have a place in the modern rugby world!

Answer 4

Nope..I personnally can't stand this warrier stuff in sport..

Any crack riddled ak47 totting 14 year old... in africa is a brave warrier. Warrier shite is the norm..and we should keep it a million miles away from rugby...

Answer 5

Absolutely! It's a cultural thing for the Kiwis. It has also been accepted by the wider rugby community.

And the other Pacific Islands.  Yes!! Why wouldn't they?  Once again a Polynesian cultural thing and accepted.

From a spectator point of view it is one of the most anticipated pre-game activitites before a Test match.

Interestingly Australian and South Africans teams used to do war cries before matches around the begin of the 1900's.

Answer 6

Yeah exactly. I mean, being a NZer I LOVE the haka, yet other countries supporters may not feel the same way.

But the fans LOVE it! Fans from everywhere!! I mean, the aussies have their waltzing matilda song, the english have that swing low sweet chariot and NZ have their haka.

Its what shapes the team and their fans, and without that there would be no rugby. So to answer, yes i think it def has a place in modern rugby!

Answer 7

i believe so.

if only to keep the tradition.

if every country wants to start doing some war dance or sing "waltzing matilda" or something, then we might have a problem.

isnt the haka supposed to be a maori challenge? if so, whats wrong with that?

Answer 8

Yes it has a place!

Fans of both sides always enjoy it, the ABs get a lot out of it, and the players of other teams mostly enjoy the chance to stand up to it.

It also shows that we appreciate how lucky we are to be able to share in the unique culture of our Maori fellow New Zealanders, and gives other countries that aren't so lucky the chance to experience it as well.  

A lot of other countries do not have 2 cultures to represent (although many do, also), so for them to insist on having an equivalent for the Haka is pointless. Even though we sing the national anthem in Maori as well as English, it is essentially a tradition we inherited from our English ancestors, so it is important that we incorporate a Maori tradition into the game also.

Answer 9

to many its seems like a silly dance to others a proud tradition...

i like it... it adds to the game and ask any international player would they like to be involved in it or face it they would say yes

Answer 10

I know you want to hear from non-Kiwis but I would just like to say that in the professional era we are losing too many traditions already. We can't afford to give up one of the best of them all. I hope and pray it's still being done if and when I ever have grand-children, for them to see.

Answer 11

Yes. I must be one of a very small number of Bangladeshis who likes watching rugbny, and would like to play the game someday. Although rugby coverage in this part of the world is sparse, seeing the Kiwi haka is one of the main reasons I enjoy the few games that are shown. I'd definitely vote to keep it seeing its such a crowd favourite. I really don't know much about the other rituals you mentioned, but the haka is great and you have this coming from a non-Kiwi.

Answer 12

Definately has a place. Its as traditional as shaking your opponents hand after the match or having a beer with opposition. It belongs, and shouldnt be changed. Look at the uproar when the welsch rugby union tried to muck with it and the All Blacks did it in the changing room, The Welsch fans were livid that they had missed out on one of sports greatest traditions!

Answer 13

Yes definitly has a place. Helps lift rugby's profile around the world.