Cook Islands national rugby league team

Cook Islands

Nickname	The Cooks
Governing body	Cook Islands Rugby League Association
Region	Asia-Pacific
Head coach	David Fairleigh
Captain	Johnathon Ford
Home stadium	Avarua National Stadium
RLIF ranking	22nd
Colours
First international
Niue 8–22 Cook Islands (Rarotonga, Cook Islands; 1986)
Biggest win
United States 8–64 Cook Islands (Featherstone, England; 1995)
Biggest defeat
New Zealand 84–10 Cook Islands (Reading, England; 2000)
World Cup
Appearances	2 (first time in 2000)
Best result	Group stage, 2000; 2013

The Cook Islands national rugby league team has been participating in international rugby league football competition since 1986. The team is controlled by the governing body for rugby league in Cook Islands, Cook Islands Rugby League Association (CIRLA), which is currently a member of the Asia-Pacific Rugby League Confederation (APRLC). They are currently ranked 17th in the RLIF World Rankings.

History

1990's

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.

2000's

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.

2010's

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.

Players

For all past and present players who have appeared for the national team, see Cook Islands national rugby league team players.

Current squad

The following players are a list of players selected in the Cook Islands national team preliminary train-on squad for the 2017 Rugby League World Cup qualifier against Tonga in October 2015. *Note the squad's size will increase as the NRL and Super League finals series progresses. (caps and points apply for before the World Cup qualifier began):

Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Pts.	Club
FB	Jordan Rapana	(1989-08-15) 15 August 1989	2	4	Canberra Raiders
WG	Drury Low	(1990-04-02) 2 April 1990	3	4	Narellan Jets
WG	Anthony Gelling	(1990-10-18) 18 October 1990	5	4	Wigan Warriors
CE	Chance Peni	(1994-01-17) 17 January 1994	0	0	Wests Tigers
SO	Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad	(1995-08-02) 2 August 1995	0	0	Melbourne Storm
SH	Aaron Teroi	(1995-10-02) 2 October 1995	0	0	Melbourne Storm
PR	Francis Molo	(1994-09-03) 3 September 1994	0	0	Brisbane Broncos
PR	Ezra Howe	(1996-08-10) 10 August 1996	0	0	Canberra Raiders
PR	Adam Tangata	(1991-03-17) 17 March 1991	4	0	Halifax RLFC
PR	Eric Newbigging	(1994-02-27) 27 February 1994	0	0	Parramatta Eels
PR	Fred Pakutoa	(1989-06-17) 17 June 1989	0	0	Wentworthville Magpies
PR	John Papalii		0	0	West Belconnen Warriors
HK	Wallace Tangiiti	(1995-10-16) 16 October 1995	0	0	South Sydney Rabbitohs
SR	Makahesi Makatoa		0	0	Canterbury Bulldogs
SR	Tupou Sopoaga	(1992-06-05) 5 June 1992	2	0	Penrith Panthers
SR	Reuben Porter		0	0	Sydney Roosters
SR	Esan Marsters	(1996-08-17) 17 August 1996	0	0	Wests Tigers
LF	Tinirau Arona	(1989-05-08) 8 May 1989	9	4	Cronulla Sharks

Tournament history

Rugby League World Cup

Rugby League World Cup record
Year	Result	Position	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA
1954	Did not participate
1957
1960
1968
1970
1972
1975
1977
1985–88
1989–92
1995	Did not qualify
2000	Group stage	13th	3	0	1	2	38	144
2008	Did not qualify
2013	Group stage	9th	3	1	0	2	64	78
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 are the previous 5 matches of the national team. For all past match results, see the team's results page.

17 October 2015 20:00

Tonga	22–8	Cook Islands
	Report

Campbelltown Stadium, Campbelltown Attendance: 4,813

10 November 2013 14:00

Wales	24–28	Cook Islands
	Report

The Gnoll, Neath Attendance: 3,270

5 November 2013 20:00

Tonga	22–16	Cook Islands
	Report

Leigh Sports Village, Leigh Attendance: 10,554

30 October 2013 20:00

United States	32–20	Cook Islands
	Report

Memorial Stadium, Bristol Attendance: 7,247

20 October 2013 15:00

New Zealand	50–0	Cook Islands
	Report

Keepmoat Stadium, Doncaster Attendance: 4,638

See also

• Rugby league in the Cook Islands

External links

• Google-Video