SA Rugby will use school war-cries as a uniquely South African response to the All Blacks’ haka during selected fixtures on New Zealand’s eight-match tour of the country.
The initiative will see four schools performing their own war-cry on the field as a direct answer to the haka before each of the All Blacks’ games against South Africa’s United Rugby Championship franchises.
It forms part of the build-up to the first full All Blacks tour of South Africa in three decades, with the visitors set to play the Stormers, Sharks, Bulls and Lions as well as a three-Test series that will conclude in Baltimore, USA.
School competition to shape pre-match spectacle
To give the four franchise matches a distinct local identity, SA Rugby launched a nationwide competition inviting schools to submit their own war-cries.
The response has produced “scores of impassioned and vibrant submissions”, and four winning schools have now been chosen. Each of those schools will perform its war-cry live at one of the four domestic fixtures, immediately after the haka.
The All Blacks will begin their tour against the Stormers in Cape Town on 7 August, before further provincial matches against the Sharks and Bulls in the build-up to the opening Test at Ellis Park on 22 August.
A final midweek encounter against the Lions will complete the provincial schedule ahead of the last two Tests in South Africa and a concluding third Test in Baltimore.
Historic rivalry and provincial incentive
For South Africa’s domestic sides, the tour offers a rare opportunity to make history. No South African provincial team has beaten the All Blacks on home soil since the 1976 tour.
New Zealand dominated the non-Test leg of their 1996 visit, remaining unbeaten with three wins and a draw in provincial matches. They also claimed the Test series 2-1, securing their first-ever series victory in South Africa.
This time, the All Blacks will perform the haka in front of South Africa’s four United Rugby Championship franchises and capacity home crowds, with the local school war-cries set to add another layer to the pre-match theatre.
Tickets remain on sale for the provincial fixtures and the third Test.
‘Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry’
Framing the tour as part of a broader celebration of the sport’s heritage, SA Rugby president Mr Mark Alexander described the meetings between South Africa and New Zealand as central to the global game.
“Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry is more than a contest between two proud nations; it is a celebration of history, tradition and the enduring spirit of the game,” said Mr Mark Alexander, President of SA Rugby.
“Each encounter between South Africa and New Zealand carries with it the weight of decades of competition, respect and shared excellence.
“This rivalry has produced moments that have defined rugby itself, battles of skill, courage and resilience that inspire generations of players and supporters alike. It is a fixture that transcends sport, uniting communities and reminding us of rugby’s power to connect people across borders.
“As custodians of the game, we honour this rivalry not only for its intensity on the field but also for the values it represents: respect, sportsmanship, and the pursuit of excellence. Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry is a testament to the enduring bond between our nations and the global significance of our sport.”
