England have been fined over their response to the haka in Saturday night's Rugby World Cup semi-final.
The English created an inverted V formation facing the All Blacks during the haka, something that was celebrated by many spectators and pundits, but were told by officials at the time to move back behind the halfway line, as per World Rugby regulations.
In a statement on Wednesday, a World Rugby spokesperson said:
"The World Rugby regulations state England breached tournament rules 'relating to cultural challenges, which states that no players from the team receiving the challenge may advance beyond the halfway line'."
"The matter is closed and World Rugby will not make further comment."
Prop Joe Marler was one player who crossed the halfway line in the formation, with the referees instructing him to move.
Fellow front rower Mako Vunipola said after the match that England wasn't trying to be disrespectful
“We meant no offence by it, we just wanted to let them know that we were ready for the challenge ahead. There have been a few times in the past when the All Blacks have done that and blown the opposition away. We put accountability on ourselves to back it up and I thought we did.”
.@EnglandRugby's incredible response to an intense @AllBlacks Haka#ENGvNZL #RWC2019 #WebbEllisCup pic.twitter.com/pXOw7v01df
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) October 26, 2019
Vunipola said Marler was "confused" and that's why he passed the halfway.
“He said he got confused,” Vunipola said.
“He thought he was supposed to go all the way around it and go to their 10m line.
"But because of that, he’s the one who has to pay the fine. He dishes it out a lot so the boys would be more than happy if he has to pay it.”
The decision has created controversy given World Rugby's social channels praised England for their haka response, posting vision of it on their platforms and boasting of the clip's performance.
The Guardian reported England would be fined a four-figure amount but not as much as the approximately $A4,600 that France was fined for encroaching on the haka in 2011.
All fines issued by World Rugby are donated to the organisation's principal charity partner Childfund PassitBack.
