Aussie men’s netball team stuns with pre-match dance

The Australian men’s netball team has channelled its inner boy band and left onlookers floored with a wild pre-match dance.

Forget the haka or the Sipi Tau, the Australian men’s netball team has just produced a pre-match routine to match them all.

OK it might not be quite as intimidating as those famous footy war cries, and yes it was performed to the NSYNC hit Bye Bye Bye, but it undoubtedly ignited the crowd at Wolfbrook Arena in Christchurch, New Zealand.

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The men’s side, which is called the Kelpies, is contesting the Fast5 netball series and took on South Africa on Saturday night.

Before the first whistle blew to get the game underway, the Aussie players got in a huddle and then broke up and started waving their hands in the air to inspire the crowd as the famous boy band hit began.

The team gets into position. Photo: Channel 7

After asking the crowd to get involved. Photo: Channel 7

With the South African side lined up on the halfway line ready for battle, the Kelpies moved into formation and began busting out the choreographed routine you can see in the video player above.

The crowd in attendance went ballistic, screaming and cheering as the dance unfolded.

The commentators were in agreement, declaring: “Amazing! If you ever wanted to be part of a boy band and do the choreographed dance, that was the chance and they absolutely nailed it Australia.”

News Limited journalist Lachlan McKirdy posted a video of the performance to X with the caption: “Should all sports have this? Yes, most definitely.”

Sadly for McKirdy and sports fans, he soon had to turn comments off the post.

“The video found the wrong side of Twitter,” he wrote. “Apparently people can’t have fun anymore.”

His post already generated a number of reactions, while Channel 7 Sport — which broadcasts the event — also posted the video to its TikTok account and left its comments open.

The big finale. Photo: Channel 7

It had slightly different vibes to the All Blacks’ haka. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP)

Netball fan Emily Greenaway tried to explain to people unfamiliar with the competition exactly what was happening before them.

“For the peeps, fast5 is a fun comp with a condensed format of netball,” she wrote on McKirdy’s post.

“Crowds come in dress ups. Teams, umps, comms crew do dances. Literally just having some fun and playing the game. Plenty other sports have these type of events.”

Many of those commenting across the two social media platforms opted to reference Australian breaker Raygun and her infamous Paris Olympic performance.

“Already better then Raygun,” one quipped.

“Raygun was their coach,” offered another.

The Kelpies in action against New Zealand last month. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)

The dance brought back memories for some. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

A third wasn’t having any of the fun, however, writing: “That’s Raygun levels of embarrassment. Genuinely shameful and I cannot believe they did it. Hope they got smoked.”

In terms of non-Raygun reactions, one wrote: “Australian version of the Haka.”

A seemingly bewildered fan asked: “Is this real?”

A third complained: “New Zealand has the Haka and we get this.”

There were also a huge number of supportive comments, with people getting into the spirit of the moment.

“Petition for all netball games to start like this,” one said.

“Men’s netball is so iconic. All you haters can buzz off,” declared another.

“The best!! Aussie, Aussie, Aussie,” wrote a third, rekindling perhaps the most renowned Australian war cry.

Whatever the reaction, the dance may had the desired effect, as the Kelpies romped to a 42-27 victory.

Originally published as Aussie men’s netball team stuns with pre-match dance