The Rugby World Cup 2023 is hotter than ever. From September 8th to October 28th, a total of 20 nations are competing to become the Rugby World Champions.
The tournament features the teams that participate in the prestigious Six Nations tournament: England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Italy, and France. Additionally, it includes the teams that compete in the Rugby Championship: Argentina, Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand. It's worth noting that the latter are the teams with the most World Cups in their trophy cabinets, with a total of 3.
The famous Haka, performed by the New Zealand and Samoa national teams, has become one of the most viral images of the World Cup. It's a challenging and intimidating dance for the opponents. But do you know what the Haka is and what it truly means?
The origins of the Haka
Traditionally, the Haka was a Maori war dance that aimed to intimidate the enemy and prepare them emotionally for battle, a ferocious display of pride, strength and unity of the tribe. Between their actions there are energetic stomps against the ground, the realization of grotesque grimaces with the tongue and rhythmic slaps on the body, all accompanied by a song that sounds as primitive as forceful.
Currently, in New Zealand, Haka is used in all kinds of celebrations, even for mourning, because it has become a folkloric exaltation of the very versatile aboriginal pride. However, it is in the field of rugby where it acquires its greatest global impact.
And it's not something new, the first time it was performed on the playing field was on October 3rd 1888 when the New Zealand native team played against Surrey, on a tour of the colony by the home countries of the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland).
Today, the All Blacks enjoy a great reputation in the country, more after having confirmed the title in the 2015 Rugby World Cup, which also took place in the United Kingdom. But it was at the 2011 World Cup that the Haka was performed, which probably had the most media impact. They were under the spotlights of the whole world, they were the favorites and they won.
But what does what they sing in the Haka mean?
If at this point of the post you are too curious to know what the singing means, you have the translation as follows.
MAORÍ VERSION OF KA MATE
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 upane! ka upane!
A upane kaupane whiti te ra!
Hi!!!
ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF KA MATE
I die! I die! I live! I live!
I die! I die! I live ¡ I live!
This is the hairy man (for the Maoris hairy is equivalent to brave)
That brought the sun, and made it shine again
One step up!
Another step up!
One step up!
Another step up!
The sun shines
Kapa o Pango, the All Blacks' own Haka
In August 2005, before the Tri Nations Test match against South Africa at Carisbrook, the All Blacks performed for the first time Kapa O Pango, a new haka for and about the All Blacks.
Kapa O Pango was written for the team by Derek Lardelli, an expert in Maori culture and customs. Its words and actions celebrate the land of New Zealand, the silver fern and its warriors in black. The name might be translated simply as 'team in black'. Rather than replace the traditional haka, Ka Mate, Kapa O Pango sits alongside it as a new addition to the All Blacks' tradition.
MAORÍ VERSION OF KAPA O PANGO
Taringa whakarongo!
Kia rite! Kia rite! Kia mau!
Hi!
Kia whakawhenua au i ahau!
Hi, aue! Hi!
Ko Aotearoa, e ngunguru nei!
Hi, au! Au! Aue, ha! Hi!
Ko kapa o pango, e ngunguru nei!
Hi, au! Au! Aue, ha! Hi!
I ahaha!
Ka tu te ihi-ihi
Ka tu te wanawana
Ki runga i te rangi, e tu iho nei, tu iho nei, hi!
Ponga ra!
Kapa o pango! Aue, hi!
Ponga ra!
Kapa o pango! Aue, hi!
Ha!
ENGLISH VERSION OF KAPA O PANGO
Let me go back to my first gasp of breath
Let my life force return to the earth
It is New Zealand that thunders now
And it is my time!
It is my moment!
The passion ignites!
This defines us as the All Blacks
And it is my time!
It is my moment!
The anticipation explodes!
Feel the power
Our dominance rises
Our supremacy emerges
To be placed on high
Silver fern!
All Blacks!
Silver fern!
All Blacks!
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The respect and other values of rugby that you probably didn´t know
Interview with Patricia García, one of the best rugby players in the world
Image: All Blacks Official Facebook
