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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
World
Eva Corlett in Wellington

Rugby team sparks row in NZ after calling government ‘rednecks’ in haka

Hurricanes Poua head to the changing rooms after warming up during the round one Super Rugby Aupiki match between Chiefs Manawa and Hurricanes Poua at FMG Stadium Waikato on March 02
The team inserted the words ‘puppets of the redneck government’ into their haka on the weekend Photograph: Michael Bradley/Getty Images

A row over the role of protest in professional sport has erupted in New Zealand after a women’s rugby team called the coalition government “rednecks” during a pre-match haka.

The Hurricanes Poua – the women’s rugby union team for Wellington – added lyrics to their haka just before their Super Rugby Aupiki match against the Chiefs Manawa in Hamilton on Saturday.

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