In a 2015 throwback that’s half cringe, half comedy gold, England rugby legend Matt Dawson and the Battersea Ironsides RFC took on the All Blacks’ iconic Haka—but with a twist.
The unlikely crew was recruited by menswear retailer Jacamo to deliver a lighthearted, choreographed spoof that had fans both chuckling and cringing in equal measure.
The “Hakarena” Moves: Simple, Silly, and… Surprising?
This wasn’t your classic Haka. Dubbed the “Hakarena,” the routine was a quirky mix of four easy moves: arm slaps, leg slaps, chest slaps, and a… let’s say, “enthusiastic” hip wriggle, all set to a custom soundtrack that couldn’t be further from the fierce chants of New Zealand’s pre-game ritual.
“To Us, the Haka is Sacred” — Pita Sharples Weighs In
Not everyone was laughing, especially not New Zealand’s cultural leaders. Former Māori Party co-leader Pita Sharples shared a strong reaction to the spoof, saying, “The haka is very meaningful to us. To actually mimic it and deliberately bring it into ridicule is, to me, insulting.”
Jacamo, the brand behind the video, responded to fan backlash on Twitter with an apology, clarifying: “Sorry if this has caused offence, was not our aim. The haka is awesome & wanted to show how silly [the] English version would be.”
Keven Mealamu’s Take? “It’s Actually Quite Funny”
As for the All Blacks themselves, they handled the parody with surprising calm. Speaking from New Zealand’s World Cup base in London, legendary hooker Keven Mealamu shrugged it off with a laugh. “It’s actually quite funny seeing him do it,” Mealamu commented. “It’s, obviously, just something he’s lifted.”
Mealamu acknowledged the Haka’s significance, explaining, “The haka’s part of what we do, but it’s not actually what we do as a rugby team. We’re out here to play the game.” Asked if Dawson had crossed a line, Mealamu chose to emphasize the cultural pride New Zealanders feel about the Haka instead: “It’s his view on the way he sees it. He sees it different to us. The haka is quite special to us not only as All Blacks, but it’s something we’re proud of as part of our culture.”
Mealamu even shared a personal connection: “I started doing the haka when I was four years old in my backyard. I saw my heroes doing it.”
Fan Reactions: Loving It or Loathing It?
Rugby fans took to social media to voice their thoughts, and, unsurprisingly, opinions were divided:
“Shockingly bad. Dawson needs to have a word with his agent about this one,” added a third, clearly unimpressed.
“I wish England would do this against New Zealand just for the sake of it,” mused one cheeky fan.
“Amusing? Yes. Disrespectful? Yes,” another commented, summing up the mixed vibes.
“Brutally targeted” – Five players who flopped in the opening round of the Autumn Nations Series
Here’s a look at five players who’ll want to leave their performances behind after the All Blacks defeated England and Scotland routed Fiji in the Autumn Nations Series opener.
Ellis Genge (England)
Guardian 5/10: “Back from calf injury and gassed by Tele’a for first try. Embraced the blitz defence but beaten by Jordan too easily as well.”
Telegraph 5/10: “Brutally targeted by the All Blacks for their opening tries by Tele’a and Jordan. Rule of thumb: don’t leave your prop exposed against All Black outside backs.”
Ben Spencer (England)
Guardian 5/10: “First start at 32 and looked nervous, caught out at one ruck on his own 22 and charged down. Settled thereafter but not the statement showing he’d have liked.”
