England fined for their response to New Zealand haka

England have been fined £2,000 for entering New Zealand half as the All Blacks performed the haka ahead of the quarter-final clash between these two teams last weekend.

The rules stipulate that the opponent players shouldn't enter New Zealand territory as they perform their cultural ritual but the red rose team instead responded with a 'V shape' formation with few players crossing the half despite the referee asking them to retreat.

"England have been fined for a breach of World Cup tournament rules relating to cultural challenges, which states that no players from the team receiving the challenge may advance beyond the halfway line," said World Rugby in a statement.

"This is in line with the protocol which operates globally across the international game."

Skipper Owen Farrell was also spotted with a smirk on his face but New Zealand head coach Steve Hansen described England's response to the haka 'brilliant' except they should have remained in their own half.

"They didn't get fined for responding, they got fined because they went over halfway.

"If you understand the haka then it requires a response. It's a challenge to you personally and it requires you to have a response. I thought it was brilliant - quite imaginative too."

During the 2011 World Cup final, France were fined £2,500 for advancing towards New Zealand when they performed haka.