A Wristband Too Far: Why Did Kane Hames' Standing Rock Stance Fall Foul Of His Rugby Bosses?
Jamie Wall reads between the lines of NZ Rugby’s recent wristband sanctions.
Normal transmission resumed over the weekend as the All Blacks trampled Italy 68-10 in Rome.
After their shock loss to Ireland in Chicago they were back to being the same old relentless All Blacks, but there was something a little different about the famous black jersey. Sewn on one of the arms was a poppy, to mark Remembrance Day. It’s not the first time the All Blacks have attached the poppy to their jerseys for a November test match in conjunction with the Returned Services Association to commemorate the 13 All Blacks who fell in World War I.
A week earlier, Maori All Blacks prop Kane Hames made a small addition to his match day attire as well, by writing on his wrist band. Usually a space reserved for tributes to mum, dad or Jesus, Hames used the match against the US Eagles to show his support for the Native American protest against the Dakota access pipeline at Standing Rock. If he hadn’t scored a try late in the game, no one might have even noticed.
Hames’ show of solidarity with the UN-backed movement caught headlines. Team management were quizzed on the subject and came back with a disappointing show of disapproval, coach Colin Cooper saying that “he’s playing for this team and we are part of New Zealand Rugby and Maori culture, that’s our drive and that’s what we will all be standing for”.
Hames was showing support for another indigenous culture, fighting to protect their land rights – something not too dissimilar to what Maori have faced over the last 170 or so years since the Treaty of Waitangi was signed. In fact, Hames’ Standing Rock stance came 135 years to the day of one of the most infamous Maori land confiscations in New Zealand history.
Spot the double standard?
Before and after the All Blacks trampling of Italy, viewers were subjected to a collection of soundbites from the players about how much the poppy on their jerseys meant to them. Which was fine, even if they did seem mawkishly scripted.
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So is the message that symbolism and nods to causes are all good with the New Zealand Rugby powers-that-be, as long as they fit the narrative they want? It has a slightly unnerving parallel to the history the government seems to want us to remember. World War I: good, brave, heroic. Land Wars and broken treaty promises: the less said, the better.
And New Zealand Rugby certainly are good at saying nothing when they don’t want to, this year especially.
NZ Rugby enjoys a cosy relationship with the current government. The last World Cup squad was announced at Parliament. Prime Minister John Key has long been a regular in the changing rooms after games, and was in direct contact with senior All Blacks during New Zealand’s recent flag referendum. Israel Dagg once got himself in trouble with the Electoral Commission (but not NZ Rugby) for tweeting his support for Key in the last election.
The Maori All Blacks went on to lose their next match against Munster over the weekend, a match preceded by a widely praised and uniquely Maori tribute to the late Anthony Foley. Given the furore over Hames’ actions the week before, it seems like there’s a definite line that NZR are comfortable with when it comes to native culture expressing itself in representative teams.
Which, in itself, is a sad representation of a larger part of New Zealand than the country likes to admit.
Comments on RugbyPass
To me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
30 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
30 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
30 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
30 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
30 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
30 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
1 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
30 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
17 Go to commentsNot good to hear Ulster described as “financially troubled”. Did not think it was getting to that level. I would hope the Irish system of spreading players of talent away from Leinster would kick in now. Better to have a Leinster fringe player with Ulster or Connacht, then getting only a few games a season in Dublin. 10, for example, would seem to be a case for spreading the talent. I would not be at all adverse to a SA man coming in as head coach/DR. Ludeke is worth trying. Certainly got a long and impressive coaching career at this level…..149 games in SR, then Japan, 30 years experience. And Ulster’s ledger of successful SA coaches and players is on the positive side. Is talk of Ruan Pienaar interested in coming back as a coach…..could be a good combination with Ludeke. And Pienaar and family would have no settling in to do, one would judge. He loved life in Ulster when there, by all reports.
1 Go to commentsSome thoughts to consider here, Sam. Thanks
2 Go to commentsI think he is right, SBW is respected in RSA. The guy who never stood up is a worm. Sseems lots of NZ SBW hate, you do the crime do the time.
17 Go to comments