Black Ferns to be feted

It might not be a nationwide tour or a ticker-tape parade, but the Black Ferns World Cup win will be celebrated next week in Auckland.

Manukau will host the world champions Black Ferns at their first public celebration on Thursday, as many of the team play for the province.

New Zealand Rugby announced the event yesterday and said it was ‘‘to publicly acknowledge the achievements’’ of the five-time World Champions.

‘‘We want to give Kiwis an opportunity to show their appreciation for this special team,’’ NZR chief executive Steve Tew said.

Tew said with the details of the Auckland event now in place, NZR was working on a programme of visits around the country. The Auckland event will be livestreamed to allow fans around New Zealand to enjoy the celebrations.

The decision comes a month on from the Kiwi side’s 2017 Women’s Rugby World Cup win in Ireland, where they beat England 41-32 in a dramatic final

While it had been a long time coming, New Zealand Rugby chief executive Steve Tew said it was just the start of celebrations for the team around the country.

Wellington Mayor Justin Lester had been one of the first to offer up a public parade for the team back in August – a suggestion lauded by many online.

However, in the weeks following, nothing more had been confirmed with the team instead being recognised during last week’s All Blacks-south Africa test match in Albany.

Wellington City Council public affairs adviser Hayden Munro said the council had been ‘‘in talks with NZRU’’ on Wednesday and confirmed the city would be hosting a public event for the champion side in coming weeks.