International women's rugby teams welcomed to Rotorua

Four international women's rugby teams, including New Zealand's Black Ferns, have received a rousing welcome to Rotorua.

The Black Ferns, along with their Australian, English and Canadian counterparts attended a pohiri at Te Puia this afternoon.After the welcome Black Ferns captain Fiao'o Fa'amausilisaid it was always special to receive a Maori welcome and she was sure all of the women would have an enjoyable time in Rotorua.

English captain Sam Huntersaid she and her teammates knew how important Maori culture was to the "way of life" in New Zealand.

"It's a massive honour and a privilege for all of us to be a part of.

"Often when we come on tour all we get to see is the airport and the training pitch, so to actually come and experience the traditional part of your culture and heritage has been a real highlight," said Hunter.

After the welcome the Black Ferns performed a spirited haka.

Four international women's rugby teams, including the Black Ferns, are welcomed to Rotorua ahead of their games in the city this weekend.

Posted by Rotorua Daily Post on Tuesday, 13 June 2017

The English, Australian and Canadian players reciprocated with renditions of

Swing Low Sweet Chariot

,

Down Under

and

Land of the Silver Birch

respectively.

Black Ferns loose forward Lesley Ketu,who is also the Bay of Plenty Rugby Union women's development officer, said the pohiri made her proud to be a New Zealander.

"It's special to be able to share our culture with anyone, but to be able to do it with a group of women's rugby teams from overseas is really uplifting and empowering," said Ketu.

The four-team series was a good warm-up for the women's world cup in Ireland in August, while also being an opportunity to highlight and grow the women's game, she said.

The teams are welcomed at Te Puia. Photo/Ben Fraser

"To be able to get three test matches in before a world cup just shows how far the women's game has come - and it continues to grow.

"To have three international sides here, visiting our shores and playing us, gives us valuable game time before the world cup.

"It's something that we probably haven't been able to do in the past but we're moving in the right direction."

The Black Ferns play England in a series decider as the curtain raiser to the Maori All Blacks versus the British and Irish Lions at 4.15pm on Saturday.

Australia and Canada will each be looking to avoid successive defeats when they play at Smallbone Park at 12.30pm.