Japanese rugby fans in Haka contest

Fri Oct 30 2009 12:31:39

Japanese rugby fans have been competing with the Kiwi team in performing the Haka as they contested for the title of the best Haka performer in Japan.

All five contenders, from an 11-year-old solo to a group of 27 high school students, revealed their scowling and roaring skills during the audition titled "Finding the 16th member of All Blacks".

The event was a publicity stunt ahead of the Bledisloe Cup match in Tokyo on Saturday between Australia's Wallabies and New Zealand's All Blacks.

Former and current All Blacks members, including the head coach Graham Henry and captain Richie McCaw, attended the audition as judges, only to be surprised by the commitment and idiosyncrasy of the participants in performing the traditional Maori dance.

"Wow, yeah, I'm pumped. It was great. Great intensity. Hundred per cent on what you did," All Blacks' forward Brad Thorn said after he watched one performance.

The group in question was from Gamushara Cheerleading Company, whose members are all occupational cheerleaders. At the end of their performance, the judges gave them the honour of the "16th member of All Blacks."

"Haka is all about expressing itself, and they did really really well," said Richie McCaw, captain of the All Blacks.

"I've been a big fan of the All Blacks since I was a high school student, and I used to become very energetic when wearing the All Blacks jersey. Though I couldn't become a rugby player myself, I'm very happy that I can be one of their supporters through my work," Tadahiro Muto, the leader of the Gamushara group, said.

Japan has traditionally flown the flag for rugby in Asia, hosting a successful junior world championship earlier this year before earning the right to stage the 2019 World Cup.

According to the Japanese Rugby Association, Japan has about 120,000 rugby players including amateurs.

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