Fijian rugby players train today

The Fijian rugby team was to have its first training in Tauranga today - three days out from the start of the Rugby World Cup.

The team was due to hold its first training at 9am at Tauranga Domain.

Fiji have decided to keep their practices secret ahead of the competition but the media was welcome to attend for 15 minutes before the training closed.

The Fijian team arrived in New Zealand on August 29. They were the first team to arrive in New Zealand ahead of the Rugby World Cup, which runs from September 9 to October 23. Until now, the team has spent time in Whakatane, at a pre-tournament camp, said Tauranga City Council events delivery manager Penny Mitropoulos.

The Fijian team practice is due to finish around mid-morning, before a press conference is held at midday. At 4pm today, the team was to be welcomed to the Western Bay of Plenty by Tauranga City Council and Ngai Tamarawaho in an official welcoming ceremony at Huria Marae. In respect of Rugby NZ 2011 rules regarding visiting teams' security, the ceremony is invitation only.

Fiji are due to remain in the Western Bay until Thursday before they head to Rotorua, ahead of their first game verse Namibia on Saturday. The team will play two more pool games, in Wellington and Auckland, before they return to Tauranga on September 26. The team is due to remain in the Western Bay until September 30, before they go to Hamilton for their last pool match against Wales.

The Samoan team are due to arrive in Tauranga tomorrow morning. The Samoan team will be in Tauranga from September 7-10 and the Russian team will be in town from September 21-23.

For coverage of tomorrow's training and official welcome, see tomorrow's Bay of Plenty Times.