LONDON — England prop Joe Marler stirred controversy ahead of Saturday’s rugby test against New Zealand by suggesting that the renowned pre-match haka should be eliminated.

“The haka needs binning. It’s ridiculous,” Marler expressed on the social media platform X, addressing the traditional ritual performed before kick-off.

He further commented that the ceremonial dance “only carries weight when teams actually face it with some form of response.”

His provocative remarks led to considerable backlash, which prompted Marler to temporarily disable his X account, though it reappeared on Wednesday.

“Context is everything,” he explained. “I was just trying to spark some excitement for an incredible rugby match. Some of the reactions have been quite extreme.”

Though Marler was not included in the final team for the game at Twickenham, he has been training with the wider 36-man squad in preparation for the test.

In rugby union, there are specific regulations that prevent the opposing team from crossing the halfway line while the New Zealand players are engaged in their haka.

England faced fines in 2019 for violating this rule prior to the World Cup semifinal, when Marler crossed the line during England’s reverse V formation, ostensibly to encircle the New Zealand players.