SA Rugby prepare unique response to All Blacks’ haka
· The South African
A 30-year wait for the resumption of tours between rugby’s greatest rivals ended this week with the arrival of the touring All Blacks in South Africa for the start of an eight-match ‘odyssey’.
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The All Blacks will first face the Stormers in Cape Town on 7 August, while matches against the Sharks and Bulls will precede the first Test at Ellis Park on 22 August.
There will then be a final midweek match against the Lions before the final three Tests in the series, which concludes in Baltimore, USA.
For the domestic sides, the lure of becoming the first South African provincial team to beat the All Blacks in South Africa since the 1976 tour will be a significant incentive.
Response to the All Blacks’ haka
As always, it will be interesting to see how supporters and opposing teams respond to the iconic haka, and SA Rugby have got something planned for the domestic games.
To give the four franchise matches a distinctive local flavour, SA Rugby launched a competition for schools, which has seen scores of impassioned and vibrant submissions.
The four selected winning schools will be given the opportunity to perform their war-cry as an answer to the All Blacks’ haka at each of the four franchise matches.
New Zealand were unbeaten in their provincial matches on their 1996 Tour, winning three and drawing one. They won the Test series – their first series victory in South Africa – by two Tests to one.
This time, the All Blacks will perform the haka in front of South Africa’s four United Rugby Championship teams and crowds.
Highly-anticipated tour
Tickets for the provincial matches and third Test are still available – CLICK HERE.
“Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry is more than a contest between two proud nations; it is a celebration of history, tradition and the enduring spirit of the game,” said Mr Mark Alexander, President of SA Rugby.
“Each encounter between South Africa and New Zealand carries with it the weight of decades of competition, respect and shared excellence.
“This rivalry has produced moments that have defined rugby itself, battles of skill, courage and resilience that inspire generations of players and supporters alike. It is a fixture that transcends sport, uniting communities and reminding us of rugby’s power to connect people across borders.
“As custodians of the game, we honour this rivalry not only for its intensity on the field but also for the values it represents: respect, sportsmanship, and the pursuit of excellence. Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry is a testament to the enduring bond between our nations and the global significance of our sport.”