21.2 C
New York
Friday, November 1, 2024
pCloud Premium

Joe Marler: England prop apologises after haka comments


England prop Joe Marler has apologised for a “poorly articulated” social media post before Saturday’s match against New Zealand, where he said the haka “needs binning”.

The 34-year-old called the haka – a pre-match ritual challenge – “ridiculous” in a post on X on Tuesday.

But Marler said on Thursday he “should have done better at explaining things” and was “grateful” for the education he has received since.

“Hey rugby fans. Just wanted to jump on here and say sorry to any New Zealand fans I upset with my poorly articulated tweet earlier in the week,” Marler posted on X. “I meant no malice in asking for it to be binned, just want to see the restrictions lifted to allow for a response without sanction.

“I’m grateful for the education received on how important the haka is to the New Zealand culture and hope others have a better understanding too. Now roll on 3pm on Saturday for a mega rugby occasion. England by six points.”

Marler will not feature in the Autumn Nations Series opener at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium, having left the team camp for personal reasons before posting his initial comments.

The Harlequins player deactivated his X account following his initial post, before reactivating it to claim he was “just having a bit of fun trying to spark interest in a mega rugby fixture”.

But amid criticism from various political and cultural figures in New Zealand, All Blacks coach Scott Robertson said Marler could have chosen his words better.

“The haka for us is a custom – it is part of who we are, it’s our DNA,” added Robertson. “It is not just about the All Blacks, it is about us as a country. It means a lot to us.”

In rugby union, regulations prevent opposing teams crossing the halfway line while New Zealand are performing the Maori war dance.

In 2019, England were fined £2,000 for crossing halfway as they lined up in a V formation to face the haka before their Rugby World Cup semi-final match against New Zealand.

Current England captain Jamie George said Marler had “prodded the bear a little bit” before Saturday’s match, which kicks off at 15:10 GMT.

“Joe and I don’t always agree on everything and we disagree on this topic,” he added.



Source link

Odisha Expo
Odisha Expohttps://www.odishaexpo.com
Odisha Expo is one of the Largest News Aggregator of Odisha, Stay Updated about the latest news with Odisha Expo from around the world. Stay hooked for more updates.

Related Articles

Stay Connected

0FansLike
0FollowersFollow
0SubscribersSubscribe
Best Lifetime Deals on SaaSspot_img

Latest Articles

South Africa sweep series with massive innings victory over BD – Sport

0
CHITTAGONG: South Africa thrashed Bangladesh by an innings and 273 runs to secure their biggest win and a 2-0 series sweep after enforcing...

Will people leave Florida after devastating hurricanes? History suggests not

0
On the other hand, there are signs that Florida’s white-hot real estate market has cooled. Sales of single-family homes were down 12% in...

IND vs NZ | Twitter erupts in praise as Sundar bowls a ‘Sundar’ delivery...

0
‌New Zealand captain Tom Latham won the toss and chose to bat at Wankhede Stadium. The visitors faced an early setback when Akash...

RFK Jr., a vaccine skeptic, could be set to lead a Trump administration’s efforts...

0
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. may be poised to play a key health role in the next administration should Donald Trump get re-elected, according...

Montana man found dead in tent welcomed suspect to camp and gave him a...

0
A Montana man found slain in his tent this month welcomed his the suspect in his killing, a stranger, to his campsite and...