THE LEGENDARY New Zealand rugby haka is designed to instil fear in the hearts of their opponents, but a group of cheeky Yorkshire rugby fans following the team in Auckland have performed their own native Yorkshire haka response, which may well have bewildered their hosts.

The video, which is quickly going viral, shows Yorkshire Lions supporters in Auckland, New Zealand, prior to the third and final test on Saturday, July 8. In a busy shopping street, one supporter announces he would like to “show respect to our native hosts” by performing a haka.

The group of a dozen Yorkshiremen in red flat caps, then perform a flash mob haka in the street, planting their feet squarely on the ground and chanting “eeeeh by gum” and “where’s me whippet?” before spreading their arms wide right and then left as they pay tribute to Yorkshire thriftiness with the chant “ow much, ow much” and then “I’ll Si Thi”.

The video was posted on the “I’m From Yorkshire” Facebook page and received about 19,000 shares and 9,400 likes within 24 hours of it being posted.

The 20-strong group of rugby fans touring New Zealand to watch the rugby came from all parts of Yorkshire, including North Yorkshire.

One of the performers of the "Yorkshire 'Aka", who gave his name as Peter, said it was well received by the Kiwis, who didn't need a translation of the Yorkshire phrases.

"Unfortunately, what you can't see on the video is immediately following us doing the Haka there was a Maori street warden," said Peter.

"He walked across the pavement and straight towards us. He faced all 20 of us and did a haka straight back. It was fantastic to see.

"We did the haka in every bar and the response we got was very positive. They all got it and realised it wasn't at all disrespectful."