Rugby League World Cup 2026 Haka and War Dances
Is there a better sight in rugby league than a Pacific war dance right before kick-off?
At the Rugby League World Cup 2026, fans will see several of them, and some will be performed face to face.
Four men’s teams are expected to perform a war dance at the Rugby League World Cup 2026: New Zealand’s haka, Tonga’s Sipi Tau, Samoa’s Siva Tau and the Cook Islands’ pe’e.
Fiji are the exception. The Bati have sung a hymn before matches since 2008, although there have been calls to bring back a war dance.
The first haka of the tournament comes on Thursday 15 October, when the Kiwis face Australia in Sydney.
Below, we explain each war dance, what it means, and every match where you can watch one, including Tonga v Samoa on 1 November.
Quick Answer: Rugby League World Cup 2026 Haka and War Dances
- New Zealand: the haka “Te Iwi Kiwi”, used since 2013
- Tonga: the Sipi Tau
- Samoa: the Siva Tau
- Cook Islands: a pe’e war chant
- Fiji: a hymn, “Oqo na Noqu Masu”, not a war dance
- First haka: Australia v New Zealand, Thu 15 Oct, Allianz Stadium
Which Teams Do a Haka at the Rugby League World Cup?
Only New Zealand’s challenge is strictly a haka, but many fans use “haka” for every Pacific war dance.
| Team | War dance | When you can see it first |
|---|---|---|
| New Zealand (Kiwis) | Haka: Te Iwi Kiwi | Thu 15 Oct v Australia |
| Samoa (Toa Samoa) | Siva Tau | Fri 16 Oct v France |
| Tonga (Mate Ma’a Tonga) | Sipi Tau | Sat 17 Oct v England |
| Cook Islands (Aitu) | Pe’e | Sun 18 Oct v Fiji |
| Fiji (Bati) | Hymn: Oqo na Noqu Masu | Sun 18 Oct v Cook Islands |
Kiwis Haka: Te Iwi Kiwi
For decades, the Kiwis performed “Ka Mate”, the same famous haka used by the All Blacks.
Since 2013, the Kiwis have performed their own rugby league haka, “Te Iwi Kiwi”, written for the team.
You’ll see it three times in the group stage: against Australia, the Cook Islands and Fiji. See every date on our Kiwis next game page.
Tonga War Dance: The Sipi Tau
The Sipi Tau is Tonga’s pre-match challenge. Before the 1990s, Tongan teams mostly performed the kailao, a traditional war dance often done with clubs.
The modern Sipi Tau was written for the 1995 Rugby World Cup by King Tāufaʻāhau Tupou IV, and Mate Ma’a Tonga perform it before every Test.
Tonga’s first Sipi Tau of the tournament is against England in Perth on 17 October. See the full squad on our Tonga squad page.
Samoa War Dance: The Siva Tau
The Siva Tau is Samoa’s war dance. The version used by Samoan teams today was composed before the 1991 Rugby World Cup.
Toa Samoa perform their own rugby league version, swapping the word “Manu” for “Toa” in the chant.
Their first Siva Tau comes against France on 16 October in Parramatta. See every fixture on our Samoa next game page.
Cook Islands War Dance
The Cook Islands Aitu perform a loud, fast pe’e, a traditional Cook Islands chant, before their matches.
Fans heard it at the last World Cup in England, and you can see it three times in Pool A.
The big one is New Zealand v Cook Islands on 25 October, when the pe’e meets the Kiwis haka. See the Cook Islands squad.
Does Fiji Do a War Dance in Rugby League?
Not at the moment. Fiji’s rugby union team performs the Cibi, but the Bati sing a hymn, “Oqo na Noqu Masu”, instead.
The Bati did use a war dance, the Quruquruvatu, from the late 1990s. Lote Tuqiri led it at the 2000 World Cup.
The hymn replaced it before the 2008 World Cup. In May 2026, some Fiji rugby league figures called for a war dance to return, so watch this space. See the Fiji squad.
Tonga vs Samoa War Dance
The most famous war dance moment of the last World Cup came in the 2022 quarter-final in Warrington.
Instead of taking turns, Samoa’s Junior Paulo and Tonga’s Siliva Havili led the Siva Tau and Sipi Tau at the same time, as a sign of respect. Samoa won 20-18.
The two sides meet again on Sunday 1 November 2026 at CommBank Stadium, 8:05pm Sydney time (10:05pm in Tonga and Samoa). It could decide a semi-final place, too.
When Can You See the Haka at the Rugby League World Cup 2026?
| Date | Match | War dances |
|---|---|---|
| Thu 15 Oct | Australia v New Zealand | Kiwis haka |
| Fri 16 Oct | Samoa v France | Siva Tau |
| Sat 17 Oct | England v Tonga | Sipi Tau |
| Sun 18 Oct | Fiji v Cook Islands | Pe’e, Fiji hymn |
| Fri 23 Oct | Tonga v Lebanon | Sipi Tau |
| Sat 24 Oct | PNG v Samoa | Siva Tau |
| Sun 25 Oct | New Zealand v Cook Islands | Haka and pe’e |
| Sat 31 Oct | New Zealand v Fiji | Haka, Fiji hymn |
| Sat 31 Oct | Australia v Cook Islands | Pe’e |
| Sun 1 Nov | Tonga v Samoa | Sipi Tau and Siva Tau |
For kick-off times in your time zone, see our Rugby League World Cup 2026 kick-off times guide, and our how to watch guide for TV channels.
Do Women’s Teams Perform War Dances?
Yes. Pacific women’s teams have their own pre-match challenges, and the Kiwi Ferns perform a haka before their matches.
See every women’s team in our Women’s Rugby League World Cup 2026 guide, including the Kiwi Ferns squad.
Rugby League World Cup Haka: FAQ
What is the Kiwis rugby league haka called?
The Kiwis perform “Te Iwi Kiwi”, their own rugby league haka, which replaced “Ka Mate” in 2013.
What is Tonga’s war dance called?
Tonga’s war dance is the Sipi Tau. The modern version was written for the 1995 Rugby World Cup by King Tāufaʻāhau Tupou IV.
What is Samoa’s war dance called?
Samoa’s war dance is the Siva Tau. Toa Samoa’s rugby league version uses the word “Toa” instead of “Manu”.
Does Fiji perform a war dance in rugby league?
No. The Fiji Bati sing the hymn “Oqo na Noqu Masu” before matches, which replaced their war dance before the 2008 World Cup.
When do Tonga and Samoa play at the Rugby League World Cup 2026?
Tonga v Samoa is on Sunday 1 November 2026 at CommBank Stadium in Parramatta, kicking off at 8:05pm Sydney time.
Conclusion
The war dances are one of the best parts of the Rugby League World Cup 2026, and the first one comes with the Kiwis haka on 15 October.
Don’t miss New Zealand v Cook Islands on 25 October and Tonga v Samoa on 1 November, when two war dances meet.
Want to see one live? Tickets are on Ticketmaster, and our tickets guide explains how to buy safely.
Follow every score on our Rugby League World Cup results page, and visit rlwc2026.com for official news.
