Gone are the days when teams took on the All Blacks’ Haka and came close to the New Zealanders in the cultural challenge, but why is that the case?

The intimidating image of Sébastien Chabal and his French teammates watching the Haka before the 2007 Rugby World Cup quarter-final is etched in the memories of many fans.

Meanwhile, many will remember that Springboks enforcer Kobus Wiese challenged the All black people before the 1995 Rugby World Cup and the same goes for England fans and Richard Cockerill searching for Norm Hewitt two years later.

For Irish fans, Willie Anderson will always be synonymous with the greatest reactions to the Haka while Tongans and Samoans, in particular, will remember the epic cultural challenges performed at the same time in the 1990s and early 2000s.

Why teams no longer advance towards the Haka

However, these examples are all more than a decade or two old and there’s a reason for that: Rugby world regulations.

In 2021, a clip of Samoa and Tonga performing their cultural challenges ahead of their Rugby League World Cup clash went viral as the two teams faced off with players just a meter apart. ‘other – if that’s the case – but that’s not possible in rugby union.

Indeed, World Rugby does not allow this, limiting teams to their own half when cultural challenges are carried out.

This is explained in the World Rugby Match Commissioners’ Program Guide, where it is clearly stated that the non-challenging team can cross the halfway line while the opposing team cannot cross the 10 line. mr.

“When only one team makes a challenge, no player from the team making the challenge may cross their own 10m line and no player from the team receiving the challenge may cross the center line,” the statement reads. guide.

When teams break the rules, as was the case in the 2019 World Cup semi-final when Joe Marler and his England teammates crossed the halfway line, they can be fined by the governing body of rugby. England was fined £2,000 in the case.

All Blacks: Best Haka responses and biggest controversies of all time, including England, South Africa and Ireland

These rules not only apply to the All Blacks Haka but also to Samoa’s Siva Tua, Tonga’s Sipi Tau and Fiji’s Cibi.

As New Zealand writer Jamie Wall has pointed out, these regulations are in place for a rather “bland” reason, so that broadcasters and photographers can get a better picture of the challenge.

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It’s probably worth reminding people (again) why WR has a rule about teams advancing on the haka, and it’s a pretty bland reason: so they can get that image/camera angle to publication/broadcast. pic.twitter.com/zpzA91v7wQ

-Jamie Wall (@JamieWall2) October 30, 2024

Many people think that cultural challenges should not be done before matches because teams are forced to “entertain themselves”, but this is not the case, as the guide adds: “It is not It is not obligatory for the team receiving the challenge to face it.

Before one of the 1996 Bledisloe Cup Tests, Australia opted to continue their warm-up while the All Blacks performed the Haka, a decision which Wallabies captain John Eales said he regretted, while former Winger David Campese did the same in 1991.

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In the event that two teams wish to complete a challenge, which is the case when two teams consisting of New Zealand, Samoa, Fiji and Tonga compete, they must be separated by at least 10 meters.

“When both teams complete challenges, one team cannot cross halfway and the other team cannot cross their own 10 meter line – so teams are always at least ten meters apart,” it says. he says on the official World Rugby website.

Modern responses to cultural challenges

While laws now prevent teams from moving forward on cultural challenges, opposing teams have found alternative ways to respond.

England formed a V-shape in 2019, but simply did so too close to the All Blacks, leading to their fine. However, in 2008 Wales simply looked at the Haka and refused to be the first team to break eye contact and move once the Haka was completed.

In recent years, the Wallabies have formed a boomerang shape while Ireland have paid tribute to the late Anthony Foley by forming an eight.

LEARN MORE: New Zealand hits back at ‘low IQ’ Joe Marler over haka outburst as England star deletes social media account following backlash