The Black Ferns say it is "special" to be officially welcomed in York, England ahead of kicking off their World Cup campaign against Spain next Monday.
Co-captain Kennedy Tukuafu told 1News the opening ceremony was a special moment for all the team, including 17 debutantes.
"The welcoming ceremony is always incredible and just marks the start of the campaign and I think we're all just ready to go," she said.
Black Ferns' waiata gets big ovation - Watch on TVNZ+
Co-captain Ruahei Demant said it was an opportunity to acknowledge every player that has made it to this point.
"Whether you're experiencing your first or second, you know, your multiple, every pinnacle event is different and so for myself, it's an opportunity to stand up and address the room and just to see the amount of players who, I know, have worked so hard," she said.
“There's so many challenges that we go through to get to this point and there's so much internal competition in the squads that we all come from and so to finally be here, to be recognised as the best in our countries, and then we get to play the best at a Rugby World Cup, it is just so special and so every moment that we get to be together, and there's not many moments where, you know, multiple teams come together. It’s really special."
Fiji, Canada and Spain were also welcomed to the English city where their pool play will begin.
New Zealand and Fiji performed waiata at the opening ceremony.
Teams and coaches were given participation medals acknowledging the achievement of qualifying for the World Cup.
World Rugby said it was working to make the event the best sporting event in general in 2025.
The Black Ferns held their first training session on Sunday after landing in the UK last Thursday.
"The last few days it's just about getting the body club adjusted to, you know, your UK time," Tukuafu said.
She said the team "can’t wait to hit the ground running" in play, and were excited to train.
“A bit of rugby stuff, line outs, some set-piece stuff. But it was more just about getting the lungs firing, the legs moving and just sharpening our skill set to go on Tuesday," she said.
The defending champions were pursuing their seventh title, with the final set down for September 27 at Twickenham in London.
The Black Ferns are in Pool C, with their other matches against Japan (September 1) and Ireland (September 8).
The Black Ferns won the last World Cup in a dramatic final against England at Eden Park in 2022 - the Red Roses haven't lost a match since and are favourites for the tournament on home soil.
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