Huge turn out at Faleolo international airport for arrival of Toa Samoa Photo: Samoa Observer/Piui Simi
Families and fans of the Toa Samoa national rugby league team waited two hours to see their 2022 World Cup heroes.
The Samoa Observer reports hundreds of flag waving fans had crammed Faleolo International Airport in the early hours of Wednesday morning and broke into the national anthem as players emerged from the arrivals lounge.
A short prayer was offered for the safe arrival of the players who play professional league in Australia, New Zealand and Great Britain.
The rest of the team and management arrived later in the day to start the ceremonies and festivities planned by the Samoa Rugby League Association and the government.
People patiently wait for their world cup heroes to arrive Photo: Samoa Observer/Piui Simi
The official welcome starts on Thursday with a prayer service and a public parade through Beach Road in Apia.
Fans will get a chance to meet and greet the players and management after the parade.
During the visit the players will also visit with the Head of State, the Mapuifagalele Home for the Aged, and the Catholic Carmelites, and have New Year's Day services and lunch with families.
The official programme includes a Saturday visit to the big island of Savaii but that's yet to be confirmed.
Toa Samoa RLWC head coach Matt Parish Photo: Samoa Observer/Piui Simi
After a day spent with families on Monday, the team will return to New Zealand, Australia and Britain on Tuesday.
Moved up the ladder
Toa Samoa have risen to number three in the rugby league world rankings following their run to the final of the men's World Cup in England in November.
The Samoans were ranked number seven before the tournament.
Quarter-finalists Tonga fall from second to fifth, while Papua New Guinea drop a spot to sixth.
Fiji also drop one place, to seventh, and the Cook Islands are 12th.
