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Several international teams are coming to Auckland in March to prepare for the water polo world championships in Melbourne.
The confirmed visitors among the men are Italy, Russia, the United States, Canada and Britain, and the national women's teams of the Netherlands, China, Britain and possibly Russia and Germany.
Teams will start arriving from March 3 for training and warmup games.
All the teams will contest the Southern Cross Cup tournament from March 10 to 14 before heading to Melbourne.
The Auckland competition will be the biggest water polo event in New Zealand since the women's World Cup in Christchurch 18 years ago.
Three venues will be used for training, games and competition - the Millennium Institute on the North Shore, Sacred Heart Aquatic Centre in Glendowie and West Wave Aquatic Centre in Henderson.