Cook Islands national rugby league team

The Cook Islands national rugby league team has been participating in international competition since 1988.

History

Before 1995, the Cooks’ international experience was limited to participation in the Pacific Cup, and hosting the touring BARLA 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 Nationas 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.

The Cook Islands sucessfully 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.

2008 World Cup Qualifying

See 2008 Rugby League World Cup qualifying

The Cook Islands will be playing Fiji, Tonga and Samoa in the Pacific pool of Qualifying. Two teams will win representation at the World Cup with a third entering the repecharge round.

Staff

President, Cook Islands Rugby League: Charles Carlson
Selectors: Kevin Iro, Charles Carlson, Ina Konito and No'ora Samuela
Head Coach: Ina Konito
Defensive Coach: Matty Rua
Attacking Coach: Kevin Iro

Competitions

The Cook Islands have participated in:

Pacific Cup (since 1988)
World Cup (since 1995)
Super League World Nines (1996,1997)
Super League Oceania Tournament (1997)
Papua New Guinea 50th Anniversay Tournament (1998)
Pacific Rim Competition (2004)

Results

Cook Islands def. Samoa 44-0 (2006)
Fiji def. Cook Islands 40-18 (2006)
Cook Islands def. New Zealand Māori 24-16, 16 October, 2005 (Curtainraiser:New Zealand Māori under 18s def. Cook Islands under 18s 38-26)
Cook Islands v New Zealand Māori 13 October, 2005
Cook Islands drew with New Zealand Māoris 26-all (8 October 2005) (Curtainraiser:Cook Islands under 18 def New Zealand Māori 20-14)
Cook Islands def. New Zealand Māoris 46-4 (23 October 2004)
Cook Islands def. Fiji 20-12 (21 October 2004)
Cook Islands def. American Samoa 28-12 (20 October 2004)
Cook Islands def. Tonga 18-10 (19 October 2004)
Tonga def. Cook Islands 22-17 (17 October 2004)
Tonga def. Cook Islands 38-30 (4 October 2004)
Cook Islands def. Fiji 22-14 (27 August 2004)
Cook Islands def. Fiji 36-24 (17 August 2004)
Cook Islands drew with Lebanon 22-22 (5 November 2000)
New Zealand def. Cook Islands 84-10 (2 November 2000)
Wales def. Cook Islands 38-6 (29 October 2000)
Tonga def. Cook Islands 34-4 (1999)
Tonga def. Cook Islands 42-2 (1999)
Tonga def. Cook Islands 28-13) (1999)
Cook Islands def. Tokelau 22-16 (1998)
American Samoa def. Cook Islands 40-34 (1998)
New Zealand Māoris def. Cook Islands 28-6 (1998)
Tonga def. Cook Islands 30-22 (1998)
Cook Islands def. New Zealand Māoris 16-8 (1998)
Papua New Guinea def. Cook Islands 46-6 (1998)
New Zealand Māoris def. Cook Islands 24-4 (1998)
Cook Islands def. New Zealand Māoris 18-10 (1998)
New Zealand Māoris def. Cook Islands 24-14 (1998)
Tonga def. Cook Islands 16-8 (1998)
Papua New Guinea def. Cook Islands 34-14 (1997)
Papua New Guinea def. Cook Islands 38-14 (1997)
Cook Islands def. Fiji 22-14 (1997)
Fiji def. Cook Islands 14-8 (1996)
Cook Islands def. Ireland 10-6 (24 October 1995)
Cook Islands def. Scotland 21-10 (20 October 1995)
Cook Islands def. Russia 58-4 (18 October 1995)
Cook Islands def. USA 64-8 (16 October 1995)
Fiji def. Cook Islands 54-6 (1992)
Western Samoa def. Cook Islands 66-12 (1992)
Tonga def. Cook Islands 26-6 (1992)
Cook Islands def. Niue 23-22 (1992)
New Zealand Māoris def. Cook Islands 70-10 (1988)
Western Samoa def. Cook Islands 52-16 (1988)
Cook Islands def. Tokelau 19-10 (1988)

External links

Google-Video

International rugby league teams | Rugby league in Oceania | Sport in the Cook Islands