Please World Rugby, ban the Haka

[Rugga-lad]

I don't care if i'm going to get flack for this.

NZ Rugby have been getting away with this for too long.

I cannot believe that we live 14 years into the 21st Century and we still have men dancing before a rugby match.
I honestly don't have a problem with the maori culture. I really don't. However, there's no place for the haka or any war dance from the other nations in rugby.
The worst part is you're not even allowed to challenge the haka. Talk about having your cake and eating it. It's ridiculous.

If the haka absolutely must stay, then at the very least have it challenged. The All Blacks really get a charge out of being challenged.

Having said that.
The cricket team don't do the haka. Why should rugby still have it ?

Everything in life is cyclical, so i'm sure someone will have some sense at some point at World Rugby HQ to ban it. Nothing stays the same forever.
I can only hope it will be in my lifetime.

 

[Big Ewis]

People here know my opinion. I'm against it as it gives a psychological advantage to one side, and as you say the opposing team can't even reply to it. Not fair.

 

[ratsapprentice]

Challenge it with what?

...A longbow volley?

 

[Rugga-lad]

Challenge it with what?

...A longbow volley?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAdzuVDLu_w

 

[Conal]

Challenge it with what?

...A longbow volley?

a volley of morris dancers fired via trebuchet

 

[SelimNiai]

Me for this thread

<img style="-webkit-user-select: none" src="http://i.imgur.com/ipELDZc.gif">

Wake me up when someone inevitably needs banning

 

[ratsapprentice]

a volley of morris dancers fired via trebuchet

Where can I sign up?*

*on the strict proviso that there will be no safety measures in place and that Morris dancers will be extinct by the next RWC.

 

[ENZED-88]

I don't care if i'm going to get flack for this.

NZ Rugby have been getting away with this for too long.

I cannot believe that we live 14 years into the 21st Century and we still have men dancing before a rugby match.
I honestly don't have a problem with the maori culture. I really don't. However, there's no place for the haka or any war dance from the other nations in rugby.
The worst part is you're not even allowed to challenge the haka. Talk about having your cake and eating it. It's ridiculous.

If the haka absolutely must stay, then at the very least have it challenged. The All Blacks really get a charge out of being challenged.

Having said that.
The cricket team don't do the haka. Why should rugby still have it ?

Everything in life is cyclical, so i'm sure someone will have some sense at some point at World Rugby HQ to ban it. Nothing stays the same forever.
I can only hope it will be in my lifetime.

I would love to see the cricket team do the haka would be good for a laugh plus it would make the most boring sport ever thought of a bit more exciting for the one minute it's preformed.

 

[jonny24]

You can't challenge it? Haven't teams responded by singing, etc. And I'm quite sure I've read quotes from all black players saying a challenge is welcome.

EDIT: Okay, just googled it and it turn s out you can't. I get not being disrespectful of a culture, but you should be able to stand your ground, respond etc. Don't ban it but allow a response.

 

[Kiwiwomble]

Challenge it with what?

...A longbow volley?

I would like to see that!...pretty sure they would bounce off Ben Smith though...might need to protect the crowd from the ricochet's

Don't ban it but definitely let people challenge it, i have NEVER met a fan that thinks challenges shouldn't be allowed

Wales stare down is still one of the best moments in recent rugby history

 

[jonny24]

Challenge it with what?

...A longbow volley?

Scots could wear kilts instead of warmup pants. Reply with pipes and a dance.

 

[iINDOMINUSxx]

Scots could wear kilts instead of warmup pants. Reply with pipes and a dance.

I'll accept your challenge

 

[jonny24]

I'll accept your challenge

Not even a serious dance, either. Just something totally frivolous. (highland fling? Is that a thing?) Take all the menace of the haka away with a jolly little jig.

 

[BakkiesBokke]

I don't care if i'm going to get flack for this.

NZ Rugby have been getting away with this for too long.

I cannot believe that we live 14 years into the 21st Century and we still have men dancing before a rugby match.
I honestly don't have a problem with the maori culture. I really don't. However, there's no place for the haka or any war dance from the other nations in rugby.
The worst part is you're not even allowed to challenge the haka. Talk about having your cake and eating it. It's ridiculous.

If the haka absolutely must stay, then at the very least have it challenged. The All Blacks really get a charge out of being challenged.

Having said that.
The cricket team don't do the haka. Why should rugby still have it ?

Everything in life is cyclical, so i'm sure someone will have some sense at some point at World Rugby HQ to ban it. Nothing stays the same forever.
I can only hope it will be in my lifetime.

I like the theatre surrounding the Haka - it is a tradition also. I think life would be bland if we as human beings didn't exhibit cultural diversity - we need to respect and conserve different cultures & traditions whenever possible.

 

[Draggs]

I would like to see that!...pretty sure they would bounce off Ben Smith though...might need to protect the crowd from the ricochet's

Don't ban it but definitely let people challenge it, i have NEVER met a fan that thinks challenges shouldn't be allowed

Wales stare down is still one of the best moments in recent rugby history

You should have seen the FB comments for the video of England singing Swing Low then.

 

[Jbobo]

I would like to see that!...pretty sure they would bounce off Ben Smith though...might need to protect the crowd from the ricochet's

Don't ban it but definitely let people challenge it, i have NEVER met a fan that thinks challenges shouldn't be allowed

Wales stare down is still one of the best moments in recent rugby history

Just youtube'd it for nostalgic reasons. It still gives me tingly balls.

 

[Jaguares]

 

[iINDOMINUSxx]

People here know my opinion. I'm against it as it gives a psychological advantage to one side, and as you say the opposing team can't even reply to it. Not fair.

I strongly disagree with that only because we get the like's of Samoa, Fiji and Tonga. They do a war dance before a game but are they the best in the world ?, no they're not. So I don't understand why they say the haka gives the all blacks the upper hand in every game when clearly it doesn't.

 

[Big Ewis]

I strongly disagree with that only because we get the like's of Samoa, Fiji and Tonga. They do a war dance before a game but are they the best in the world ?, no they're not. So I don't understand why they say the haka gives the all blacks the upper hand in every game when clearly it doesn't.

did you uhm...did you just dis..disagree with m..with me there, Scotty ??..... *left eye twitching uncontrollably*

You can't challenge it? Haven't teams responded by singing, etc. And I'm quite sure I've read quotes from all black players saying a challenge is welcome.

EDIT: Okay, just googled it and it turn s out you can't. I get not being disrespectful of a culture, but you should be able to stand your ground, respond etc. Don't ban it but allow a response.

.....dude we got fined 5000$ for advancing towards the haka in the final.

 

[goodNumber10]

I honestly think it should stay as it's great theater and i'd be disappointed to go to a game and not see it done, but i do believe it should be done before the anthems.

I've always felt it's a little insulting to the home nation that their anthem is not the last thing before kick off....