Wales in All Blacks haka promise

This season there will be no repeat of New Zealand's private haka

The Welsh Rugby Union has promised that New Zealand's wishes over their haka ceremonial dance will be honoured for the tour match with Wales in November.

In 2006, the All Blacks were asked to perform the haka in between national anthems, rather than before kick-off.

New Zealand refused and instead opted to perform the dance in private.

"It's been agreed that the haka will be performed in the traditional way just before the game kicks off," said Gerry Toms, the Millennium Stadium manager.

"The dispute in 2006 was unfortunate and everybody missed out, so we wanted to make sure that didn't happen again."

New Zealand played Wales in Cardiff in 2005 in a match to celebrate the centenary of the first Test played between the two nations.

To mirror what had happened 100 years before, the All Blacks agreed the haka could be followed by the Welsh crowd singing their national anthem, Hen Wlad fy Nhadau, in reply.

If it was necessary for apologies to be made, they were made then and there were handshakes Gerry Toms, Millennium Stadium general manager

But that was on the understanding that moving the haka from its long-standing place moments before kick-off was a one-off concession.

When New Zealand returned to Cardiff the following season in 2006, the Millennium Stadium crowd missed out on one of sport's most iconic sights.

The All Blacks were presented with a pre-match itinerary the same as the year before and in annoyance opted to perform the haka in private in their dressing room.

Toms, who was the Millennium Stadium's safety and operations manager at the time, took over as general manager of the venue the month after that 25 November match.

"There were rights and wrongs on both sides on the day," Toms said. "In hindsight who missed out? I think everybody did: the game of rugby missed out, the supporters missed out and even those watching on television missed out.

"I think it was very simply the fact that because New Zealand had agreed to change the format of when the haka was going to be performed on the previous occasion at the stadium, certain individuals here thought it would be okay to plan it differently for the next game.

606: DEBATE Did you miss the haka in 2006?

"When New Zealand discovered that they made different representations and there was the crux of the dispute, and rightly so as it's a great part of their tradition.

"Things were resolved after the event and if it was necessary for apologies to be made, they were made then and there were handshakes."

Wales begin their autumn series on 8 November against South Africa, face Canada the following weekend, before welcoming New Zealand to Cardiff on 22 November and then finish against Australia.

Preparations are being overshadowed by an on-going dispute between the Welsh Rugby Union and the four Welsh regions over the release of players for the Tests.

But Toms said the Millennium Stadium staff are preparing hard for what promises to be a mouth-watering autumn series, with the All Blacks set to again capture the public's imagination

"We do respect the fact they are our guests... it's a very special game against New Zealand and the haka is a special occasion that people really enjoy," Toms added.

"What we've done is ensure that the haka is in its traditional slot, that's the way its been for many, many years and we don't wish to change that.

The haka is a special occasion

"Seventy-four-and-a-half thousand people will see it on cue and that will be one of the last moves before the game kicks off.

"What will happen is there'll be more than one haka, because what we've done this time - slightly unusual - is that people in hospitality suites will have a group of New Zealanders who will actually perform the haka 'live' for them as well."

The Millennium Stadium pitch has been beset by problems in recent weeks, which were traced back to a parasitic infestation in the turf.

Toms says they have opted to replace the whole pitch to ensure it would be ready for the Tests, rather than treat the parasites and risk the grass not having recovered sufficiently in time.

"The turf suppliers have been superb, they understood the difficulties we faced," Toms said.

"The key thing for us now is to get it to bed-down quickly.

"We've got the benefit of the artificial lighting system, we've got two-and-a-half weeks, and the important thing now is hopefully the weather stays reasonably mild.

"If those factors remain then we're confident we'll have it bedded down, because the key part is getting those roots to grow and get them down into that subsoil to give it strength."