RWC: English have another crack at haka

A Geordie version of the haka has been sweeping the north of England. Photo / Youtube

First there was the 'Hakarena' and now the English have made another attempt at a parody version of the haka.

A Geordie version of the haka has been sweeping the north of England ahead of the All Blacks' clash with Tonga at Newcastle's St James Park next Saturday.

George Taylor and his friend John Gray made up lyrics and foot-stomping actions to imitate the dance.

Although Maori leaders have described other imitations of the haka as disrespectful, with the Matt Dawson-led 'Hakarena' drawing particular ire at the start of the World Cup, the Geordie duo insist their version is not intended to offend.

Former assistant coach of the Jarrow Vikings Rugby League team, Mr Gray, from Gateshead, told the Newcastle Evening Chronicle: "The Geordie Haka has been performed many times and it is gets rounds of applause or people go into hysterics. It is always taken in good humour.

"It was about eight years ago when me and George came up with the lyrics and since then the song has become a bit of a party piece.

"I have performed it in Dubai and it went down a storm there. I help out with the Dubai Marathon and we have a night out at a resort near the airport at the end and I stood on stage and did the Geordie Haka.

"Then in the Czech Republic, when I took the junior team over there, I got up in a restaurant and did it. Again it was well received.

"Closer to home it has been performed at parties and in the Schooner pub in Gateshead. When we did it in the pub, Fijian rugby player Tabua Cakacaka was playing for Gateshead Thunder and he did it first.

"Then we did the Geordie version. It was a kind of haka-off, which went down great."

As the All Blacks prepare for their trip to the northeast the Geordie Haka was filmed at the Monkton Stadium in Jarrow.

The video has since gone viral and has already been seen by nearly two million people. It has translations for the lyrics so viewers around the world can understand the dialect.

-Daily Mail