Cook Islands national rugby league team

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This article is about the men's team. For the women's team, see Cook Islands women's national rugby league team.

Cook Islands
Badge of Cook Islands team
Team information
NicknameThe Kuki's
Governing bodyCook Islands Rugby League Association
RegionAsia-Pacific
Head coachTony Iro
CaptainAlex Glenn
IRL ranking22nd
Uniforms
First colours
Team results
First international
 Cook Islands 22-8 Niue 
(Rarotonga, Cook Islands; 1986)
Biggest win
 Cook Islands 66-6 South Africa 
(Sydney, Australia; 2019)
Biggest defeat
 New Zealand 84–10 Cook Islands 
(Reading, England; 2000)
World Cup
Appearances2 (first time in 2000)
Best resultGroup stage, 2000; 2013

The Cook Islands national rugby league team have represented the Cook Islands in international rugby league football since 1986. Administered by the Cook Islands Rugby League Association (CIRLA), the team has competed at two Rugby League World Cups, in 2000 and 2013, and are coached by Tony Iro.

History[]

1990s[]

Before 1995, the Cooks’ international experience was limited to participation in the Pacific Cup, and hosting the touring British Amateur Rugby League Association Great Britain Amateur teams. Nonetheless, the sizeable number of expatriate Cook Islanders living and playing in New Zealand has ensured that they have never been short of players with rugby league experience.

They won the 1995 Emerging Nations tournament, defeating United States, Russia and Scotland before beating Ireland in the final.

In 1996 and 1997 the Cook Islands competed in the Super League World Nines. They also played several full internationals against other South Pacific nations, most notably as part of the Papua New Guinea 50th Anniversary Tournament in October 1998. 2000 saw the Cook Islands competing in the World Cup for the first time. They finished third in their pool after losing to Wales and the Kiwis and only managing a draw against Lebanon.

2000s[]

The Cook Islands successfully toured New Zealand in 2005 with a three test series against the New Zealand Māori ending in a draw after the first test was drawn 26–26 and the second and third tests were split between both sides.

The Cook Islands played Fiji, Tonga and Samoa in the Pacific pool of Qualifying for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup. Fiji and Tonga qualified, and Samoa earned a second chance in the repecharge round. The Cook Islands, having lost to all three teams, were eliminated.

The Cook Islands participated in the 2009 Pacific Cup. Having beaten Samoa to earn a place in the tournament, they went on to defeat favourites Fiji and earn a place in the final of the competition.

2010s[]

The Cook Islands were given automatic entry into the 2013 Rugby League World Cup they were placed in Pool D alongside Wales and the United States before playing an Inter-Group match against Tonga. Going into the Tournament, 'the Kukis' had never won a World Cup match. The team lost to the USA and to Tonga, but they won their last match against the Tournament co-hosts Wales, making history for the sport of rugby league in the Cook Islands. This is the Cook Islands' best Rugby League World Cup result to date.

In October 2015 the Cook Islands took on Tonga in the Asia-Pacific elimination play-off to determine which of the two Asia-Pacific nations would qualify for the 2017 Rugby League World Cup. After a tight first half, the Tongans would go on win the match scoring 16 points within the last 20 minutes of the game.

In June 2019, Cook Islands took on South Africa at Ringrose Park in Wentworthville, winning 66–6. They then went on to play the United States at Hodges Stadium in Jacksonville in November. They won 38–16, qualifying them into the 2021 Rugby League World Cup.

Players[]

For a list of players who have appeared for the national team, see Category:Cook Islands national rugby league team players.

Current squad[]

The Cook Islands' best squad for the World Cup 2022, coached by Tony Iro, Assistant Coach and Team Manager Vu Turaki.

Pos. Player Club
Fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad Canberra colours.svg Canberra Raiders
Wing Valentine Holmes North Queensland colours.svg North Queensland Cowboys
Wing Jordan Rapana Canberra colours.svg Canberra Raiders
Centre Esan Marsters Gold Coast Titans colours.svg Gold Coast Titans
Centre Steven Marsters South Sydney colours.svg South Sydney Rabbitohs
Five-eighth Brad Takairangi HKRcolours.svg Hull Kingston Rovers
Halfback Joseph Manu Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Sydney Roosters
Prop Dylan Napa Canterbury colours.svg Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Hooker Troy Dargan South Sydney Rabbitohs
Prop Francis Molo North Queensland colours.svgNorth Queensland Cowboys
Second-row Alex Glenn (Captain) Brisbane colours.svg Brisbane Broncos
Second-row TC Robati Brisbane colours.svg Brisbane Broncos
Lock Marata Niukore Parramatta colours.svg Parramatta Eels
Hooker Brandon Smith Melbourne Storm
Second Row /Prop Zane Tetevano Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds Rhinos
Second-row Brendan Piakura Brisbane colours.svg Brisbane Broncos
Lock Tepai Moeroa Melbourne Storm
Prop Josh Papalii Canberra Raiders
Second-Row Joseph Tapine Canberra Raiders
Prop James Tamou Wests Tigers

2021 Player Pool[]

NRL
Super League

Tournament history[]

Rugby League World Cup[]

Further information: Cook Islands at the Rugby League World Cup
Rugby League World Cup record
Year Result Position Pld W D L PF PA
France 1954 Did not participate
Australia 1957
United Kingdom 1960
Australia New Zealand 1968
United Kingdom 1970
France 1972
1975
Australia New Zealand 1977
1985–88
1989–92
United Kingdom 1995 Did not qualify
France United Kingdom 2000 Group stage 13th 3 0 1 2 38 144
Australia 2008 Did not qualify
England Wales 2013 Group stage 9th 3 1 0 2 64 78
Australia New Zealand Papua New Guinea 2017 Did not qualify
England 2021 Qualified
Total – – 6 1 1 4 102 222

Other competitions[]

The Cook Islands have also participated in:

  • Pacific Cup (since 1986)
  • Super League World Nines (1996, 1997)
  • Super League Oceania Tournament (1997)
  • Papua New Guinea 50th Anniversary Tournament (1998)
  • Pacific Rim Competition (2004)

Results and fixtures[]

Below is table of the representative rugby matches played by a Cook Islands national XIII at test level up until 18 December 2020.[1]

Opponent Matches Won Drawn Lost Win % For Aga Diff
 American Samoa 1 1 0 0 100% 22 20 +2
 Fiji 12 5 1 6 41.67% 201 327 –126
 Ireland 1 1 0 0 100% 22 6 +16
 Lebanon 3 2 1 0 66.67% 80 66 +14
 New Zealand 2 0 0 2 0% 10 134 –124
Māori people New Zealand Maori 11 4 1 6 36.36% 196 242 –46
New Zealand New Zealand XIII 2 0 0 2 0% 6 62 –56
 Niue 3 2 0 1 66.67% 67 74 –7
 Papua New Guinea 5 0 0 5 0% 68 192 –124
Rotuma Rotuma 1 0 0 1 0% 10 17 –17
 Russia 1 1 0 0 100% 58 20 +38
 Samoa 6 2 0 4 33.33% 84 240 –156
 Scotland 1 1 0 0 100% 21 10 +11
 South Africa 1 1 0 0 100% 66 6 +60
 Tonga 10 1 0 9 10% 135 314 –179
 United States 3 2 0 1 66.67% 122 56 +66
 Wales 2 1 0 1 50% 34 62 –28
Total 65 24 3 38 36.92% 1202 1848 –646

Recent Results[]

Below are the previous 5 matches of the national team. For all past match results, see the team's results page.
16 November 2019
17:00
Cook Islands  38–16  United States
Hodges Stadium, Jacksonville
Attendance: 2,621
21 June 2019
19:00
Cook Islands  66–6  South Africa
Ringrose Park, Sydney
Attendance: 2,621
6 May 2017
15:15
Papua New Guinea  32–22  Cook Islands
Campbelltown Stadium, Sydney
Attendance: 18,271
8 May 2016
15:00
Cook Islands  30–20  Lebanon
Report
Belmore Oval, Sydney
Attendance: 2,000
17 October 2015
20:00
Tonga  28–8  Cook Islands
Report
Campbelltown Stadium, Sydney
Attendance: 4,813

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Head to Head". Rugby League Planet. Retrieved 18 December 2020.

External links[]

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