Haka under the Beacons

The recent post telling of the Matamata reunion refers to the 1974 Christ College XV facing the Haka before the match against the touring side. A deep dive into the Archive reveals they are not the only Christ College team to have done so on home ground. 

When the Christ College Brecon XV played the Christ’s College Christchurch XV in September 2008, they too faced the traditional Haka. Looking on was Rob Ackerman (SHB 1972-1979) who accompanied the NZ side. Capped for Wales and the Lions, he will also have faced a Haka or two in his time, as will others who have played v New Zealand - including more recent internationals Mark Roderick and Andrew Lewis for Wales, and Kieran Marmion for Ireland. 

Though we think the Haka by the Matamata side was the first to be seen on the banks of the Usk, we know the Brecon players weren’t the first Breconians to face the spine-tingling challenge. A story from earlier in the century reveals a half-hidden piece of the school’s history that has significant links to all international sporting events.   

Many Old Breconians will know that on 16 December 1905, the Welsh rugby team faced an unconquered touring New Zealand team at Cardiff. They will also know that the Welsh team included three Old Breconians, Willie Llewellyn, Teddy Morgan and J F (Scethrog) Williams. 

The Originals, who weren't known as the All Blacks until the end of their 1905 tour, hadn't lost a match by the time they met the Welsh side. Knowing they would be faced with the psychologically powerful haka, the Welsh team were determined not to be outdone. 

Depending on which newspaper report of the time you read, Willie Llewellyn (CCB 1892-1899) or Teddy Morgan (CCB 1889-1896) led the 42,000 crowd in singing Mae Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau as a deliberately provocative response. It was the first time a national anthem had been sung at a stadium before any international match. Perhaps it was not a coincidence that it was the only time the Originals lost a match in that 1905 tour.

We may never be sure which of the two contenders - Llewellyn or Morgan - actually began the singing in 1905, but there is no doubt that it was an Old Breconian who began a tradition that is now so familiar, no matter what country and no matter what sport.

When next you hear the national anthem ring out in a stadium, Old Breconian spirits can be lifted even higher and voices can be raised even louder in celebration of the tradition’s origins. 

We are fairly confident that the Haka has been seen on the Christ College XV pitch only twice - in 1974 and in 2008. Let us know if we are wrong.