Joe Marler has made a significant return to rugby after recovering from a broken foot he suffered in July, only to later withdraw from England’s wider squad. Ahead of England’s match against New Zealand, Marler faced backlash for a social media comment where he suggested that the haka, the traditional Māori war dance performed before matches, “needs binning.” In a post on X, he described the ritual as “ridiculous.” Following criticism, Marler expressed regret for his poorly worded tweet and acknowledged the importance of the haka to New Zealand’s culture.

In a follow-up post, Marler stated, “I meant no malice in asking for it to be binned. I just want to see restrictions lifted so teams can respond without penalties.” He expressed gratitude for the insights he gained about the cultural significance of the haka and hoped that others would understand its value too. He concluded with enthusiasm for the upcoming match, predicting an England victory by six points.

Despite his eagerness to participate, Marler will not play in the Autumn Nations Series opener at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium due to personal reasons that led him to leave team camp before commenting on social media. After his initial tweet, he temporarily deactivated his account but later reactivated it to clarify that his intention was simply to generate interest in the match.

The comments sparked criticism from various political and cultural figures in New Zealand. All Blacks coach Scott Robertson emphasized that the haka is an integral part of New Zealand’s identity and not just associated with rugby. He remarked, “The haka is more than just a performance; it embodies who we are as a nation.”

In rugby union, there are rules preventing opposing teams from crossing the halfway line while the haka is performed. In 2019, England faced a £2,000 fine for infringing this rule before their Rugby World Cup semi-final against New Zealand. Current England captain Jamie George noted that Marler had stirred some controversy ahead of Saturday’s match but acknowledged differing opinions within the team regarding this issue.

As anticipation builds for the game scheduled at 15:10 GMT, both teams prepare for what promises to be an intense encounter on the field.