New Zealand Rugby could be fined for the All Blacks Haka at Twickenham Stadium on Saturday in the Autumn Nations Series.
The cultural challenge dominated the headlines ahead of the third clash between the two nations after Joe Marler called for the Haka to be ‘binned’ on social media.
The England prop did later apologise for his remarks but both teams were clearly fired up by the talk during the week.
This led to a passionate rendition of Kapa o Pango but one that might prove to be costly for New Zealand Rugby if World Rugby decide to fine them as they did to England in 2019.
Why the All Blacks could be fined
In 2019, it was Marler who progressed passed the halfway line ahead of the World Cup semi-final against New Zealand. The prop and his England teammates formed an arrowhead in response to the Haka on that occasion but Marler crucially set to far forward and England Rugby were subsequently fined £2,000.
World Rugby’s Match Commissioner Programme guide clearly states that the team not performing a challenge may not cross the halfway line which Marler did.
As for the team performing the cultural challenge, in this case, the All Blacks, they may not cross their 10m line which the New Zealand players did.
All Blacks Haka v England Twickenham, November 2024 (via TNT Sports)
Fans left awestruck after ‘spine tingling’ All Blacks Haka as England and New Zealand players square-off
“Where only one team is performing a challenge, no player from the team performing the challenge may cross their own 10m line and no player from the team receiving the challenge may cross the halfway line,” the guide reads.
WHAT A HAKA! 🤯#ENGvNZLpic.twitter.com/VDKSIlTdZo
— Planet Rugby (@PlanetRugby) November 2, 2024
It adds: “Where both teams are performing challenges, one team may not cross halfway and the other team may not cross their own 10m line – so the teams are always separated by at least ten metres.”
The All Blacks started the Haka on their 10m line which is in accordance to World Rugby’s rules but when the England players advanced to the halfway line, the New Zealanders responded.
They too moved closer and by the time they completed Kapa o Pango, they were a few metres away from Steve Borthwick’s men.
READ MORE: All Blacks Haka: Why teams are no longer allowed to advance during the cultural challenge
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