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Fijian fans wait for their team at Auckland International airport - Source: ONE News -
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The Fijian rugby team is the first foreign team to have arrived in New Zealand, 11 days before the Rugby World Cup kicks off.
A crowd of 300 greeted the team at Auckland International Airport and a large group of eager Fijian fans sang as they waited for their team to arrive.
Controversial Fijian lock Leone Nakarewa arrived with the team after the government gave him an exemption to the sanctions imposed on Fijian military following the 2006 coup.
Nakarawa was a soldier in the Fijian army until two weeks ago and was granted a temporary exemption from the travel restrictions.
He refused to answer ONE News' questions relating to his military ties at the airport today.
Fiji captain and fromer Waikato front rower Deacon Manu told ONE News he was pleased Nakarawa had been allowed into the country.
"As players we can't really control things on the political side of things, but he's a great player so it's really good to see him here," Manu said.
There were members of Fiji's pro-democracy movement present at the welcome, but were there to support their side rather than protest.
"I fully support the rugby, but I don't support the coup. I don't support the military," former Fijian sport minister Rajesh Singh said.
Singh was sympathetic with Nakarawa's plight.
"He was just a normal boy who was playing rugby and he didn't have a job so he was recruited."
The Fijian team will travel to Whakatane and will be officially welcomed at a ceremony in Tauranga on September 6 before playing their first game in Rotorua against Namibia four days later.
England, Japan and France are the next teams to arrive and will all touch down in Auckland on Wednesday.
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