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Seeing more than 15 rugby players (that is, very big and strong guys) dancing a tribal dance in a threatening attitude is an image that is easily recorded on the retina. You know what we're talking about if you've ever seen an All Blacks game start, the New Zealand rugby team.

The origins of the Haka

Traditionally, the Haka was a Maori war dance that aimed to intimidate the enemy and prepare them emotionally for battle, a ferocious display of pride, strength and unity of the tribe. Between their actions there are energetic stomps against the ground, the realization of grotesque grimaces with the tongue and rhythmic slaps on the body, all accompanied by a song that sounds as primitive as forceful.

Currently, in New Zealand, Haka is used in all kinds of celebrations, even for mourning, because it has become a folkloric exaltation of the very versatile aboriginal pride. However, it is in the field of rugby where it acquires its greatest global impact.

And it's not something new, the first time it was performed on the playing field was on October 3^rd 1888 when the New Zealand native team played against Surrey, on a tour of the colony by the home countries of the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland).

Today, the All Blacks enjoy a great reputation in the country, more after having confirmed the title in the 2015 Rugby World Cup, which also took place in the United Kingdom. But it was at the 2011 World Cup that the Haka was performed, which probably had the most media impact. They were under the spotlights of the whole world, they were the favorites and they won.

But what does what they sing in the Haka mean?

If at this point of the post you are too curious to know what the singing means, you have the translation as follows.

MAORÍ VERSION OF KA MATE

Ka mate! Ka mate! Ka ora! Ka ora!

Ka mate! Ka mate! Ka ora! Ka ora!

Tenei te tangata puhuruhuru

Nana i tiki mai

Whakawhiti te ra

A upane! ka upane!

A upane kaupane whiti te ra!

Hi!!!

ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF KA MATE

I die! I die! I live! I live!

I die! I die! I live ¡ I live!

This is the hairy man (for the Maoris hairy is equivalent to brave)

That brought the sun, and made it shine again

One step up!

Another step up!

One step up!

Another step up!

The sun shines

Kapa o Pango, the All Blacks' own Haka

In August 2005, before the Tri Nations Test match against South Africa at Carisbrook, the All Blacks performed for the first time Kapa O Pango, a new haka for and about the All Blacks.

Kapa O Pango was written for the team by Derek Lardelli, an expert in Maori culture and customs. Its words and actions celebrate the land of New Zealand, the silver fern and its warriors in black. The name might be translated simply as 'team in black'. Rather than replace the traditional haka, Ka Mate, Kapa O Pango sits alongside it as a new addition to the All Blacks' tradition.

MAORÍ VERSION OF KAPA O PANGO

Taringa whakarongo!

Kia rite! Kia rite! Kia mau!

Hi!

Kia whakawhenua au i ahau!

Hi, aue! Hi!

Ko Aotearoa, e ngunguru nei!

Hi, au! Au! Aue, ha! Hi!

Ko kapa o pango, e ngunguru nei!

Hi, au! Au! Aue, ha! Hi!

I ahaha!

Ka tu te ihi-ihi

Ka tu te wanawana

Ki runga i te rangi, e tu iho nei, tu iho nei, hi!

Ponga ra!

Kapa o pango! Aue, hi!

Ponga ra!

Kapa o pango! Aue, hi!

Ha!

ENGLISH VERSION OF KAPA O PANGO

Let me go back to my first gasp of breath

Let my life force return to the earth

It is New Zealand that thunders now

And it is my time!

It is my moment!

The passion ignites!

This defines us as the All Blacks

And it is my time!

It is my moment!

The anticipation explodes!

Feel the power

Our dominance rises

Our supremacy emerges

To be placed on high

Silver fern!

All Blacks!

Silver fern!

All Blacks!

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Image: All Blacks Official Facebook