Laura Laplaud / Photo credits: KENTA HARADA / GETTY IMAGES ASIAPAC / GETTY IMAGES VIA AFP
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7:41 a.m., September 8, 2023
Warlike cries, equivocal gestures and cold eyes… The haka, the ritual Maori dance of the All Blacks performed before each official match, has become their signature. What can New Zealand rugby players say when they do their famous haka? On the occasion of the opening match of the Rugby World Cup, France – New Zealand, this Friday evening, let’s look back at the history of the New Zealand haka.
What is the haka?
In Maori culture, the haka is the generic term for dancing. A rite which can be a demonstration of the pride, the strength, the unity of a tribe and which also allows the expression of joy, anger, the desire for revenge and even sexuality.
Where is he from ?
The All Blacks, the New Zealand rugby union team, have made the haka world famous. The All Blacks perform the “Ka mate!” or “Te Rauparaha haka”, in reference to its creator. The “Ka mate!” tells the story of the warrior Te Rauparaha pursued by his enemies. “It evokes the fear of being captured and the exaltation of survival. Applied to sport, it refers to the fear of defeat on each side and the will to win,” explains Jérôme Fredon in his work In New Zealand, the haka is much more than sport.
Why did the New Zealand team adopt it?
If you think New Zealand rugby players have always performed the haka, think again. They adopted the custom in 1888. During the first Maori tour in Europe, the players had the idea of performing the famous haka before each match to attract people and pay for their trip. But it was not until 1987 that New Zealand players performed it, during the first Rugby World Cup organized in New Zealand. Coincidence? That year, the All Blacks triumphed at home. For the superstitious, this success is due to the power of the haka.
Faced with the haka of the All Blacks, what can be the reactions of the other teams?
The All Blacks haka is always a highly anticipated moment, for spectators and players alike. The latter, who often do not respond. Except in 2007. We remember the reaction of the XV of France who decided not to undergo the haka. Blue, white, or red t-shirt on their back, thus forming the French flag, they advance towards their opponent and remain motionless. An epic image.
Four years later, the two nations meet in the World Cup final. This time, the Blues will form an arrow that will head towards the All Blacks during their display.
Does the haka exist in other sports?
Other nations in the Oceania area perform the haka. Fiji does the Cibi, Samoa the Siva tau, and Tonga the Kailao. Rugby union players are not the only ones to practice this sung dance before their match – the New Zealand rugby union and basketball teams do the same.