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Joe Marler restores X account, explains blasting 'ridiculous' haka
By Liam Heagney
England front-rower Joe Marler has returned to social media to explain his controversial remarks about the New Zealand rugby haka. The 34-year-old, who on Tuesday wasn’t included in Steve Borthwick’s match day 23 to face the All Blacks next Saturday in London, originally posted two messages on X, the platform formally known as Twitter.
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“The haka needs binning. It’s ridiculous,” he wrote in his initial, controversy-igniting post. This was followed by a second message. “It’s only any good when teams actually front it with some sort of reply. Like the league boys did last week.”
Marler’s reference to league was the England versus Samoa game in Wigan last Sunday where the Samoans performed their pre-game dance while eye-balling their English opponents in a head-to-head stand-off. In contrast, New Zealand traditionally perform their haka in rugby union with the opposition standing in their own half of the pitch.
England were fined in 2019 after contravening the rule ahead of the Rugby World Cup semi-final in Japan, with Marler part of the match day 23 that went across the line. Following the overnight controversy ignited by his two posts ahead of Saturday’s Twickenham encounter, the front-rower went nuclear and deleted his X account.
However, he has now reversed that decision and reactivated his account to post two new messages on X claiming he was only fishing with his original comments. “Context is everything,” he began. “Just having a bit of fun trying to spark interest in a mega rugby fixture. Some wild responses. Big Love.” He added in a second message: “Also needed to satisfy my narcissism.”
Joe Marler is giving the All Blacks some motivation ahead of this weekend ? #rugby pic.twitter.com/olgd1uv7NI
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 30, 2024
Ellis Genge, who missed the summer tour to Japan and New Zealand, has been named as the starting England loosehead this Saturday with Fin Baxter providing cover from the bench. That left Marler as one of 13 players in Borthwick’s squad of 36 surplus to requirement for the first of four November matches, a schedule that also had games in London versus Australia, South Africa and Japan.
It has since been reported by The Times that Marler left the England camp at Pennyhill on Monday night before Borthwick publicly named his team on Tuesday afternoon.
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The veteran prop, who has previously spoken openly about his mental health issues, had returned to the squad following a broken foot suffered against the All Blacks in July but it is now said he is unlikely to play for his country in any of the Autumn Nations Series fixtures.
Context is everything. Just having a bit of fun trying to spark interest in a mega rugby fixture. Some wild responses. ? Big Love x
— Joe Marler (@JoeMarler) October 30, 2024
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I have respect for traditions and motivational acts. Do it if you wish so. But don't ram it down everybody's throat.
Why should an opposing team, supporters and viewers be FORCED to respect it?
Been watching AB tests since 1970 and I've always found it silly. If I was in the opposing team I would laugh my head off.
PS - In my country men don't stick out tongues at each other. Girls do.
Marler is intentionally a clown and somewhat of a provocateur. No news there.
The haka is harmless enough as a marketing gimmick, but it would be better if other teams also appropriated and performed stylized customs from minority communities.
For games at home Australia have their "welcome to country" and RSA have the Zulu warriors' ritual. The 6N teams don't have native minorities the majority owes something to.
The haka is bulls**t. Do your little facepull and hobbity dance in the dressing room (or better yet leave it for when you play on your island) - but why force fans and opponents to sit quietly and respect it?
He's just being a knob for the attention cuz he likes to shit stir. He doesn't mean any disrespect by it, I wouldn't hold it against him.
Hope Marler is all right.
Rule is stay in own half but if the occasion warrants a reaction I am sure the £2k price tag is acceptable.
I wish more information would be given to supporters on how best to act during Haka.
Sometimes you see NZ players saying personal choice for reactions, other times you see them getting angry and assuming noise = disrespect.
In fairness there isn't an opportunity for opponent crowds to react after the Haka so many react during it.
NZ should do a publicity campaign on it.
David Campese perfectly demonstrated how to deal with the Haka some time back.
Otherwise just stand on the halfway line and enjoy the show. No need for any cringey theatrics or synchronised geometric shapes.
Crowds should be allowed to do anything they please as admission paying customers.