England rugby legend Matt Dawson sparks outrage in New Zealand by mocking traditional haka with 'hakarena' dance 

• Matt Dawson stars in video combining haka with 'The Macarena'
• Dawson claims the 'hakarena' can be England's secret weapon in video
• But leading New Zealand politician hits out at former England scrum-half
• 'To mimic it and deliberately bring it into ridicule is, to me, insulting' says Sir Pita Sharples, former co-leader of the Maori Party in New Zealand

By Jonny Singer for MailOnline

Published: 04:21 EST, 16 September 2015 | Updated: 00:12 EST, 17 September 2015

England's 2003 Rugby World Cup-winning scrum-half Matt Dawson has heightened tensions between the hosts and the favourites at this year's World Cup by mocking New Zealand's haka.

The All Blacks perform their version of a traditional Maori dance before every game, a pre-match ritual which usually inspires respect, and a measure of intimidation.

But Dawson has decided to mock the ritual, producing his own version of the tribal dance, called the 'hakarena', which has been slammed as 'shameful' in New Zealand.

Matt Dawson leads the 'mocking' dance, which mimics New Zealand's traditional haka  

The former England scrum-half shakes his bottom at the camera during the dance, which has sparked outrage

Dawson's dance combines the traditional Maori ritual with actions from a 1990s classic pop song

The dance has been branded 'shameful' and 'insulting' by a leading Maori politician in New Zealand

The video, for clothing brand Jacamo, combines the Maori haka with the 1994 dance hit the Macarena, with Dawson leading the way, backed by team-mates from the Battersea Ironsides rugby club.

Dawson starts with the actions so often seen on the rugby pitch, and mixes them with the choreographed dance associated with the 90s classic.

The England legend describes it as England's own 'secret weapon', to match the All Blacks, but his video has been blasted as disrespectful by a leading New Zealand politician.

'The current world champions are in amazing form with awesome power, strength, depth and one secret weapon - the haka,' says Dawson in the video. 

Players from the Battersea Ironsides RFC, who back Dawson in the video, pose with the former scrum-half

Dawson won the World Cup with England in 2003, playing a crucial part in the winning drop goal

Dancers perform the Macarena, written by Los del Rio in 1996, at the height of the song's popularity

Maori politician Sir Pita Sharples hit out at Dawson's video and said it could prompt a big reaction

'They are using it to intimidate us. They think they've got an advantage over us. They think they've won the game before a ball has even been kicked.

'But I'm telling you what, we've got our own secret weapon. Have a go at the hakarena, maybe we'll put the All Blacks off their rhythm.'

The haka has been controversial in recent years, with some teams choosing to confront the All Blacks at the start of a game, and the most current version, unveiled in 2005, including an apparent throat-slitting gesture, which was explained by it's creator as a Maori symbol of renewal.

But it is usually treated with respect, by both opponent and fans.

And Sir Pita Sharples, former co-leader of the Maori Party in New Zealand, hit out at the mocking video. 

'The haka is done as a way of honouring the enemy,' he said. 'You don't do it in those sorts of circumstances - you do it if you're up for a challenge.

'By doing a haka as the All Blacks do, it's recognising the worth of the other side. So if they're doing something to mock the haka, then I think that's pretty shameful.'

'The haka is very meaningful to us,' he added. 'To actually mimic it and deliberately bring it into ridicule is, to me, insulting.

'The Maoris and New Zealanders in London could react to that big time.'

The All Blacks, however, laughed off Dawson’s send-up of their cherished haka, calling the controversial video 'quite funny'.

Speaking at the team’s World Cup hotel in Teddington, prop Keven Mealamu said: ‘I have been doing the haka since I was four in my backyard. It means a lot to New Zealand. It is part of our history and tradition as All Blacks – a special part of our culture.

‘But it’s quite funny seeing him do it.’ 

New Zealand have been performing the haka (seen here in 1916) at rugby matches going back to 1884

The current version of the haka can be an intimidating spectacle, and is somewhat controversial

Asked if the camp take-off was disrespectful, Mealamu declined to answer.

It was suggested by a source close to the New Zealand team that the players are privately more angry than they showed in their brief press conference.

Jacamo, the clothing brand that made the video, denied it was offensive, and claimed it 'acknowledges the sheer might of the reigning champions', while 'having a bit of a giggle'.

And the players who joined Dawson, from the Battersea Ironsides club, also seemed to think it was all good fun.

Marcus Bailey, 22, captain and hooker of Battersea Ironsides RFC, said: 'We responded to a request on social media to get involved and it was great fun.

'A choreographer came down and showed us the moves and we all picked them up pretty quickly. We were all up for it and had it down in about 15 minutes.

'It was a bit of a departure from our usual training sessions but it was a real laugh and great to work with Matt.' 

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