SA Rugby formally apologises for Haka interruption at Springboks/All Blacks clash
The Haka was interrupted by the stadium DJ playing Sister Bettina, fireworks going off and an Emirates flyover.
Photo: TikTok/supersportofficial (screenshot)
Clement Manyathela catches up on the latest viral content with Jonathan ‘Khabazela’ Fairbairn.
Listen below.
While the World Champion Springboks prevailed in their Rugby Championship clash against the All Blacks over the weekend, not everyone left smiling.
Several fans expressed disappointment after New Zealand’s ceremonial Haka was interrupted by the stadium DJ playing Sister Bettina, fireworks going off and an Emirates A380 airliner doing a flyover.
Watch the viral video below:
@supersportofficial There is nothing that compares to a flyover at the Boks vs All Blacks 🇿🇦✈️ #springboks #tiktoksa #tiktoksouthafrica #bokke #sarugby #sportsontiktok ♬ original sound - SuperSportTV
The South Africa Rugby Union says it has written a formal apology to New Zealand Rugby for the interruption.
CEO Rian Oberholzer says it was ‘human error’ and 'in no way deliberate'.
“I apologised in person and have written to the NZRFU to formally express our regret and apologies for what occurred,” he says.
“The unfortunate events in no way represent any lack of respect that South African rugby holds for the significance and history of the Haka. We will ensure such errors cannot be repeated.”
Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the discussion.