Culture

Most people notice and stay with rugby because of the physical nature of the game. This is partly because such people see that physicality as what distinguishes rugby from other sports. It’s also because most ruggers like giving and receiving pain. And more than a few people have joined a rugby team because of the commonly held ideas about the social element of the game as being more important than playing the game itself.

In veracity, part of what draws people to the game – players and fans alike – is the cultural core of rugby. It features a gracious and respectable combination of companionship, loyalty and respect that’s not found in other sports. Fans know it to be unique to the sport of rugby; players distinguish it as something that, compared to other athletes, makes them a cut above the rest. And when uninformed people come to see rugby for what it really is, they’re frequently surprised and humbled.

The Home Countries

In England, rugby union is widely regarded as an "establishment" sport, played mostly by members of the upper and middle classes. For example, many students at private schools and grammar schools play rugby union. In contrast; rugby league has traditionally been seen as a working class pursuit. An exception to this stereotype is evident in the neighboring countries of England and Wales. In England rugby union is associated with the public school system. In Wales, rugby is associated with small village teams which consisted of coal miners and other industrial workers playing on their days off.

In Australia support for both codes is concentrated in New South Wales, Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory. The same perceived class barrier as exists between the two games in England also occurs in these states, fostered by rugby union's prominence and support at private schools.

Exceptions to the above include New Zealand, Wales, and France except Paris, Cornwall, Gloucestershire, Somerset, the Borders region of Scotland, and the Pacific Islands, where rugby union is popular in working class communities. Nevertheless, Rugby League is perceived as the game of the working class people in northern England, and in the Australian states of New South Wales and Queensland.

In the United Kingdom, rugby union fans sometimes use the term "rugger" as an alternative name for the sport. New Zealanders refer to rugby in general as "footy" or "football", rugby union simply as either "rugby" or "union" and to rugby league as "rugby league" or "league". In the U.S., people who play rugby are sometimes called "ruggers".

The Rest of the World

In France, rugby is widely played and has a strong tradition in the Basque people along the border regions between Spain and France. It rivals the popularity of association football. The game is very popular in South Africa among both blacks and whites, having been introduced by English-speaking settlers in the 19th century. British colonists also brought the game with them to Australia and New Zealand, where the game is widely played. It has spread thence to much of Polynesia, having particularly strong followings in Fiji, Samoa, and Tonga.

Rugby is New Zealand’s national sport. It is embedded in the hearts and minds of Kiwis and watching the sport has become somewhat of a religion. Many New Zealanders would say it is an integral part of the country's culture.

The All Blacks, New Zealand's national rugby team, are one of the most feared opponents in the rugby world. Seeing them on the field in their black jerseys emblazoned with the silver fern, performing the haka, stirs pride in the hearts of Kiwis around the world.

The Rugby World Cup tournament is the world's third largest sporting event and New Zealand will host the event in 2011For most non-Maori New Zealanders today their knowledge of Haka is perhaps limited to that most performed of Haka called "Ka mate, Ka mate". Many sports teams and individuals travelling from New Zealand overseas tend to have the haka "Ka mate" as part of their programme. The sports team that has given the haka the greatest exposure overseas has been the All Blacks, who perform it before their matches. It has become a distinctive feature of the New Zealand All Blacks.

Haka Origin

According to Maori ethos, Tama-nui-to-ra, the Sun God, had two wives, Hine-raumati, the Summer maid, and Hine takurua, the Winter maid. The child born to him and Hine-raumati was Tane-rore, who is credited with the origin of the dance. Tane-rore is the trembling of the air as seen on the hot days of summer, and represented by the quivering of the hands in the dance.

Haka is the generic name for all Maori dance. Today, haka is defined as that part of the Maori dance repertoire where the men are to the fore with the women lending vocal support in the rear. Most haka seen today are haka taparahi, haka without weapons.

More than any aspect of Maori culture, this complex dance is an expression of the passion, vigour and identity of the race. Haka is not merely a past time of the Maori but was also a custom of high social importance in the welcoming and entertainment of visitors. Tribal reputation rose and fell on their ability to perform the haka (Hamana Mahuika). Haka reflected the concerns and issues of the time, of defiance and protest, of factual occurrences and events at any given time.

Haka History

The centrality of the haka within All Black rugby tradition is not a recent development. Since the original "All Black" team of "New Zealand Natives" led by Joseph Warbrick the haka has been closely associated with New Zealand rugby. Its mystique has evolved along with the fierce determination, commitment and high level skill which has been the hallmark of New Zealand's National game.

The haka adds a unique component, derived from the indigenous Maori of New Zealand, and which aligns with the wider Polynesian cultures of the Pacific. The All Blacks perform the haka with precision and intensity which underpin the All Black approach.

The Haka's Lyrics

Ka mate, Ka mate! Ka ora, Ka ora! Ka mate, Ka mate! Ka ora, Ka ora! Tenei te tangata puhuruhuru Nana i tiki mai whakawhiti te ra! A hupane, kaupane A hupane, kaupane whiti te ra! Hi!