Auckland Airport was a sea of red as Tongan fans greeted their rugby league side in the earlier hours this morning.
According to reports up to 2000 fans were at the arrivals area as players emerged after landing from Australia just before midnight. It was a festive atmosphere including a junior Tonga team performing the Siva Tau, in which the senior side responded, 1News reports.
Tonga opened their World Cup campaign with an impressive 50-4 victory over Scotland. They play their pacific rivals Samoa in Hamilton on Saturday before facing New Zealand a week later at the same ground.
