South Africa Rugby issues apology for haka disruption during Johannesburg game

The South African Rugby Union has apologized to the New Zealand Rugby Football Union following a series of events that led to the Haka being partially obscured during Saturday's Rugby Championship at Ellis Park.

The final moments of the Haka were overshadowed by music, fireworks, and a flyover by an A380 airliner, all due to a failure to adhere to the planned schedule.

The loud chanting from the home crowd also caused frustration among some New Zealand supporters, as it drowned out the Haka.

“I apologised in person and have written to the NZRFU to formally express our regret and apologies for what occurred,” Chief Executive of South Africa Rugby Rian Oberholzer said.

“It was never the intention to schedule any activities that would coincide with such an iconic moment of any Test match against the All Blacks.

“That it occurred was a result of timekeeping challenges and simple human error.

“In the confusion, the crowd’s excited cheering was mistaken to have marked the conclusion of the Haka by an unsighted sound engineer who restarted the music programme. It was highly regrettable but in no way deliberate.”

Meanwhile, All Blacks fly-half Damian McKenzie expressed his disappointment with the Ellis Park crowd's behavior during the traditional pre-match Haka and criticized the timing of the airplane flyover.

“It is the first time I have played here in Johannesburg,” said McKenzie.

“I was told it was going to be pretty loud.

“You can understand the roars of the crowd, and the music is a little … yeah.

“I probably don’t agree with it as much.”