One of the most intriguing and anticipated moments in the sport of rugby union: the sight of New Zealand's All Blacks performing their world-famous haka as the opposition stands before them. But how much do you know about the haka? And also of the three other ceremonial war dances which take place in rugby: the Cibi, Siva Tau and Sipi Tau.
Find out everything you need to know below... An ancient traditional Māori practice, there is no single recorded date for the haka's first-ever performance owing to this very reason. It has been practised by indigenous Māori communities for centuries.
The earliest point at which Europeans witnessed the haka was the 18th century: Joseph Banks and James Cook on their first voyage to New Zealand in 1769 recorded the haka as "vigorous and ferocious". In terms of its introduction into sport, New Zealand's first rugby union side visited Australia in Sydney in 1884 and performed the haka. During 1888/89, a 'New Zealand native team' toured the UK for the first time, performing the haka on October 3 1888 against Surrey in a tour match.
The year 1905 saw the birth of the 'All Blacks' as they toured Britain with a team which came to be known as 'The Originals.' Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player The All Blacks performed their famous "Ka Mate" haka before Tests against Scotland and Wales, with it having been composed in 1820 by Māori chief Te Rauparaha. Yet, the tradition of the All Blacks performing the haka on home soil and before every Test they played did not become custom until 1986. Ahead of rugby's first World Cup in 1987, All Black Buck Shelford set about reforming the haka in order for pre-match performances to be organised, in sync and executed properly.
"If we're going to do it, we're going to do it right. Either perform the haka properly or not at all. Vote on it and decide which way you want to go," Shelford is said to have told team-mates at the time.
Shelford and team-mate Hika Reid subsequently taught and trained the All Blacks squad correct pronunciation of words and actions, and of the haka's importance. At the 1987 World Cup in New Zealand, with Shelford now captain, the All Blacks performed the haka in New Zealand for the very first time, en route to the All Blacks clinching the trophy. In terms of what the haka means, "Ka Mate" is the recitation of a traditional Māori poem about life, death and resilience.
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