England’s Joe Marler Apologizes for Haka Social Media Post

England prop Joe Marler has issued an apology for a social media comment he described as “poorly articulated,” made ahead of Saturday’s game against New Zealand. In the post, Marler had stated that the haka “needs binning.” This comes after Marler had recovered from a broken foot sustained in July, joined England’s wider squad, and subsequently withdrawn. On Tuesday, the 34-year-old player had characterized the haka—a traditional pre-match ritual challenge—as “ridiculous” in a post on X. However, by Thursday, Marler expressed that he “should have done better at explaining things” and conveyed his “gratitude” for the understanding he has gained since. Marler’s post on X read: “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. 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 is not scheduled to participate in the Autumn Nations Series opener, which will take place at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium. He had departed the team camp due to personal reasons prior to making his initial remarks. The Harlequins player initially deactivated his X account after his first post, then reactivated it, stating he was “just having a bit of fun trying to spark interest in a mega rugby fixture.” However, in response to criticism from various political and cultural figures in New Zealand, All Blacks coach Scott Robertson commented that Marler might have expressed himself more appropriately. Robertson further stated: “The haka for us is a custom – it is part of who we are, it’s our DNA. It is not just about the All Blacks, it is about us as a country. It means a lot to us.” Current rugby union rules prohibit opposing teams from crossing the halfway line during New Zealand’s performance of the Maori war dance. For instance, in 2019, England incurred a £2,000 fine for advancing past the halfway line in a V formation while confronting the haka before their Rugby World Cup semi-final match against New Zealand. Jamie George, the current captain of England, remarked that Marler had “prodded the bear a little bit” in advance of Saturday’s match, scheduled to commence at 15:10 GMT. George also commented, “Joe and I don’t always agree on everything and we disagree on this topic.”