The school introduced the Haka as the Lions team tours New Zealand

Andy Rothwell, was watching the New Zealand All Blacks perform their pre-match war dance - the Maori Haka - and decided to teach it in school.

Now pupils at Mount Pleasant primary school in Newport spend their playtimes practising their moves.

And the school plans to choreograph a Welsh version of the tribal dance.

Mr Rothwell said that it was a huge success among the seven to nine year olds who were learning it.

We are thinking about writing a Welsh haka for them to learn next Andy Rothwell, PE teacher

"We have got to dance in PE and when I told the pupils we were going to learn the Haka they were really excited.

"A lot of the boys have really got into it as well because a lot of them are rugby fans.

"But the girls are loving it too.

"And of course we've got the Lions playing at the moment too so it is quite topical."

Mr Rothwell and his two colleagues Sheila Morgan and Sue Roche have been teaching nearly 90 pupils the dance which is famed for being carried out by the All Blacks before a rugby game starts.

The team has been performing the haka before matches since 1905 and they dance the warlike haka before each match, both to greet and to intimidate their opponents.

The pupils have mastered the traditional Maori dance

And although the pupils at Mount Pleasant may appear a little less ferocious than the strapping All Black squad, their teachers have said how impressive they are.

"They are all really into it, especially the boys," said Mr Rothwell.

"We are thinking about writing a Welsh haka for them to learn next," he added.

And judging from the shouts of the haka echoing around the school, the pupils are more than happy with their PE challenge.