The All Blacks perform the haka (Photo by Martyn) Before the starting whistle, the team takes the rugby pitch in loose formation. At first, they are silent and serious. Then they begin to chant and distort their faces, stretching their tongues and rolling their eyes. With hands chopping and slapping, the men shout. This isn't Hank Williams, Jr. asking if we're ready for some football. The New Zealand rugby team wants to know if we are ready to die. They are performing the haka, a traditional Maori dance that has become a fixture of the All Blacks games. The dance challenges the other team, reminds Polynesian players of their ancestors' struggles, and gets the men prepared to play hard. It is a point of pride (and marketing) for one of the world's top-ranked teams, as well as for the players of Fiji, Samoa, and the University of Hawaii. Though its aggressive gestures have recently come under scrutiny, the haka has withstood criticism for years. Australian rugby fans have long tried to drown it out, but their song about sheep somehow doesn't carry quite the same authority. Suggested Sites... Rugby World Cup 2007 - the international contest wraps up this weekend. Haka: A New Zealand Icon - beautiful site with instructions on performing the haka. The Haka and the All Blacks - history and video of how the elite team began performing their pregame ritual. Gingerbread Haka - not even cookies can resist the lure of Kiwi national pride.

Directory categories: New Zealand All Blacks, New Zealand Travel, Maori Culture, Rugby World Cup

Archived under: Cultures, Haka, New Zealand, Regional, Rugby, Sports

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