By Les Tan. Picture contributed by reader Mr Wee Ban Bee. Catch highlights of the game on RedSportsTV.
While the dust may have settled on the A Division Rugby Championship final between Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) and St Andrew’s Junior College, the buzz continues among supporters and neutrals alike about the merits of the game.
One of the highlights of a rugby final featuring these two teams is the haka both teams always perform. For some reasons best known to the organisers and the Saints, the Saints haka was performed before the traditional “meet-and-greet” session with the guest-of-honour (GOH), leading to the emcee spoiling the start of the Saints haka with the announcement of the GOH arrival. I’m sure the GOH is a jolly good fellow but most fans would have loved to watch their Saints perform the haka without interruption.
Likewise, when the post-victory ACS(I) haka was about to start, the clueless DJ continued to play music, drowning out the start of the haka, a moment that ACS(I) supporters were waiting for.
With the B Division Rugby Championship earlier in the year also suffering the same fate with mistimed announcements and music, true sports fans can do without this getai sideshow at rugby finals. We hope the C Division final does not suffer the same fate.
Here again are the hakas by both teams. Enjoy.
httpv://youtube.com/watch?v=NGSWjZ2OR9w
walao all copy cat!!!…
the haka is only for ppl following their tradition..
just follow your own tradition copy-catSSS
Conspiracy, thanks. What’s with the “hairy man” and “ladder” reference?!
to dawn,,..here you go.
The All Black’s Haka is known as the “Ka Mate” Haka,..in Maori it is
Leader
Uma tiraha!
Turi whatia!
Hope whai ake!
Waewae takahia kia kino!
Leader: Ka mate, ka mate
Team: Ka ora
Leader: Ka mate, ka mate
Team: Ka ora
All: Tēnei te tangata pūhuruhuru
NÄÂna i tiki mai whakawhiti te rÄÂ
Upane…Upane
Upane Kaupane”
Whiti te rÄÂ,!
In English Translation
Leader:
Slap the hands against the thighs!
Puff out the chest!
Bend the knees!
Let the hip follow!
Stamp the feet as hard as you can!
Leader: ‘it is death, it is death
Team: ‘it is life, ‘it is life (or: I live)
Leader: ‘It is death, ‘It is death
Team: ‘It is life, ‘It is life
All: This is the hairy man
..Who caused the sun to shine again for me
Up the ladder Up the ladder
Up to the top
The sun shines!
That’s interesting. When was the haka “given” to the ACS(I) team? By whom? And can someone tell me what it means in English?
yes, the haka was ‘given’ to the acsi rugby team quite awhile back.
the acsi one is fierce.i see hon wei
please know your facts.
in the past the acsi team went to newzealand where the natives there taught them the traditional haka. so they didnt “copy” it but instead it is a tradition passed down.
but the acsi players did the haka feircely. nice.
haha. its not called the acsi haka. its by the new zealand all blacks, just a copy.
I think so.
2006 A-Div Rugby Final – Saints’ Battle Cry:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=X9AqndH5cJ0
http://youtube.com/watch?v=PqHzjSSM4XM
the acs(i) team just copied the haka from the all blacks.
Wow, that’s a long tradition. Is it also the usual practice for the leader of the battlecry to walk back and forth in front of the opponent while eyeballing them?
Yup, typo error, it should be “pluming”.
St Andrew’s started doing the Saints Battle-Cry in all our Rugby Finals and special events since 1968.
saints’ alumnus, do you mean “pluming”?
I’m also curious – what year did the respective teams start doing their haka/battle-cry?
anyway the name given by St Andrew’s for the battle-cry is the Saints Battle-Cry.
=)
Saints Battle-Cry:
Saints!
Saints! (Echo)
We are arming for the fight!
Pressing on with all our might!
Plumming wings for higher flight!
UP and ON!
This is the first time I’m seeing the Saints haka. Could someone tell me what they are saying? Likewise, I’d love to know what the English translation of the ACS(I) haka is.
Based on the definition below of haka, I stand by the description I have given. What saints alumnus is at pains to say is that it is not the haka as performed by the All-blacks, which I am sure no one has a quibble with. But the posture and actions mimic the haka even if the words are in English. To describe it as a battle cry is an insufficient description because there are accompanying dance movements (coordinated slapping of thighs, hand and body movements).
ha·ka [ hkə ] (plural ha·kas)
noun
Definition:
1. New Zealand Maori dance: a traditional Maori war dance with vocal accompaniment by the dancers
2. dance performed by sports team: a version of the traditional haka performed by sports teams, especially the New Zealand rugby team
Source
http://encarta.ca/dictionary_561509557/haka.html
I agree that it would be nice to correct such misconception BUT the Haka is NOT the name of the All Blacks battle cry as saints’ alumnus puts it.
A haka is a traditional dance form of the MÄÂori of New Zealand. It is a posture dance with shouted accompaniment, performed by a group. Although the use of a haka by the All Blacks has made one type of haka familiar, it has led to misconceptions. Haka are not exclusively war dances, nor are they only performed by men. Some are performed by women, others by mixed groups, and some simple haka are performed by children. Haka are performed for various reasons: for amusement, as a hearty welcome to distinguished guests, or to acknowledge great achievements or occasions.
Haka is the name of the All-Blacks battle-cry, ACS(i) performed the Haka, Saints performed the Saints Battle Cry and not the haka. It would be nice that such common misconception mistake can be corrected. Thanks.
Haka != Battle Cry
Haka == All Blacks’ Battle Cry