South Africa Apologizes to New Zealand for Disrupting Haka Performance
JOHANNESBURG, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) — The South AfricanRugby Union (SARU) has apologized to the New Zealand national rugby team for disrupting their traditional Haka performance before a test match last weekend. The incident,which sparked controversy, has now been resolved after SARU expressed its regret and received understanding from the All Blacks.
The incident occurred on August 31,when the Springboks, the reigning Rugby World Cup champions and currently ranked No. 1 in the world, hosted the All Blacks, ranked No. 2, at their home ground. The pre-match ceremony, which traditionally features theAll Blacks performing the Haka, was interrupted by loud fireworks, music, and a passing jet plane. This disruption drew criticism from the All Blacks, who felt it was disrespectful to their cultural tradition.
SARU CEO Rian Oberholzer confirmed that the organization took the incident seriously and sent a letter of apology to the New Zealand Rugby Union and the All Blacks on the evening of September 2. He explained that the disruptive elements, including the jet plane, loud music, and fireworks, were untimely and caused the sound engineer to mistakenly interpretthe crowd’s cheers as a signal for the end of the Haka performance. Oberholzer emphasized that the incident was a misunderstanding and not intended as a sign of disrespect.
SARU also committed to implementing stricter protocols for future matches to ensure such incidents do not repeat. They will be more careful in schedulingthe match timings to avoid any potential disruptions during the Haka performance.
The New Zealand Rugby Union accepted SARU’s apology, acknowledging that the timing of the jet plane’s takeoff was difficult to predict and that the Haka performance itself is a loud and powerful display. All Blacks player Ethan Blackadder expressed appreciationfor the sincere apology from the South Africans and stated that the team would focus on their upcoming match against the Springboks in Cape Town.
The August 31 match saw the Springboks emerge victorious with a 31-27 win, solidifying their position as the world’s top rugby team. Thetwo teams are scheduled to face each other again on September 7 in Cape Town.
The incident highlights the importance of respecting cultural traditions and the need for better communication and understanding between teams. While the apology from SARU has resolved the immediate issue, it serves as a reminder for all sporting organizations to be mindful of thecultural sensitivities involved in international competitions.
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