Please respect the haka, asks Bok boss Rassie
The South African and New Zealand rugby teams clash in four Tests in the coming weeks.
Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus has politely requested rugby supporters to show respect for the haka, the pre-game ritual performed by the All Blacks. The teams will face off in the first of four Tests this weekend, a matchup known as Rugby's Greatest Rivalry. South African fans have previously responded to the haka with chants of "olé, olé, olé," which drowns out the powerful call to battle.
Erasmus emphasized the importance of creating an atmosphere like the one witnessed in Cape Town, where the haka was fully heard, making it a truly special moment. Such respect was also evident at Kings Park and Loftus Versfeld during recent matches against the Sharks and Bulls. In Durban, Ma'a Nonu, a current Sharks player, performed a solo haka in response to the All Blacks' performance.
The haka has a rich history, with the New Zealand Native team first presenting a version during their 1888-1889 tour of Britain and Australia. The All Blacks officially adopted the Ka Mate haka in 1905 when they toured the British Isles, and it has become a staple of their pre-game ritual.
Written by urgent.news from The Citizen's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
