The best pregame routine you never see.

September 9th, 2007 Uncategorized

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Zvs4T4RU30]

Not that the US media covers it, but Rugby World Cup 2007 is underway. Twenty nations, the US and Canada among them are competing in France for the title of finest international rugby team anywhere.

Not that I am passionate about this sport, like anyone else who went to college rugby to me is the sport whose team generally throws the wildest drinking fests on campus and just happens to play a sport as well.

But if nothing else, for my money rugby features the coolest pregame ritual in all of sports. The haka…made into an institution by the AllBlacks(New Zealand) and also done by some other sides in that part of the world. Begun generations ago as a sort of welcome/greetings symbol to the opposition, in recent years it has taken the form of an intimidating war dance that is done while peering directly at the opposition.

Anyone know of a place where one can catch the action? A tavern, restaurant? Anywhere locally?

For my money, nothing tops this for a pregame show….

And by the way. Team USA opened with a 28-10 defeat against defending champion England. A very impressive showing considering we were expected to get a MONSTER ass whoopin’.

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One Response to “The best pregame routine you never see.”

  1.  

    Michael Weber Says:
    September 13th, 2007 at 12:11 am

    It’s also made it’s way into the states at Euless Trinity HS near Dallas/Fort Worth. They have a large number of Pacific Islanders on the football team who got everybody to start doing it. It’s pretty cool.

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