The Haka is one of rugby’s most hallowed traditions, a ceremonial Maori war dance performed by New Zealand’s All Blacks before each match.

The haka, the fearsome dance performed by the New Zealand rugby All Blacks before every fixture, has become an iconic sight in world sport. Here’s what you need to know about the haka’s origins, the meaning behind it and what the words attached to the dances performed by the All Blacks mean. What are the origins of the Haka?