The Haka in Sports

In modern culture, the Haka as a war-cry has been adopted by the war-like competitors of the world’s most physical sports. Since 1988, the New Zealand national rugby team, the All Blacks, has performed the Haka, Ka mate Ka mate, before its rugby matches. This display of national pride and outright aggression has impressed many throughout the years, and undoubtedly struck fear into the hearts of opponents. Because of its popularity and rise to fame on the field of competitive sports, the Haka has come to be a major part of contact sports. Many rugby teams around the world have their own Hakas, from the literal descendants of the Maori people to the Highland rugby team of Northern Utah. American football teams have picked up on this empowering tradition, and teams such as the University of Hawaii and Brigham Young University and known to perform a Haka before games. Even basketball teams are getting into the craze of the Haka, with a performance by the New Zealand basketball team when playing against the United States at the 2014 FIBA tournament.

Translation:

’Tis death! ‘tis death! (or: I may die) ’Tis life! ‘tis life! (or: I may live)

’Tis death! ‘tis death! ’Tis life! ‘tis life!

This is the hairy man

Who brought the sun and caused it to shine

A step upward, another step upward!

A step upward, another... the Sun shines!