Haka riposte against New Zealand earns England fine of £2,000 for going too far

ENGLAND HAVE been fined for advancing beyond the half-way line when confronting the Haka before Saturday’s stunning 19-7 World Cup semi-final victory over New Zealand.

Owen Farrell and his teammates formed a V shape to face the Maori war dance but several players at the tips of the formation strayed beyond the boundaries established under World Rugby regulations.

The fine, which is understood to be £2,000, will be donated to the global governing body’s official charity.

England’s riposte to the Haka was a symbolic piece of sporting theatre that set the tone for a remarkable performance in which the world champions were overwhelmed from start to finish.

It was approvingly received across the game and, as one of the defining images of the tournament, was heavily promoted on the World Cup’s own social media channels, yet World Rugby were compelled to act.

“England have been fined for a breach of World Cup 2019 rules relating to cultural challenges, which states that no players from the team receiving the challenge may advance beyond the halfway line,” a statement read.

The rule is in place in order to avoid any potential clash of players and at the time referee Nigel Owens and his assistants told the wandering England stars to go behind the halfway line.

A precedent for World Rugby’s act was set eight years ago when France formed an arrowhead shape to advance on New Zealand as they performed the Haka before their World Cup final in Auckland and received a £2,500 fine as a result.