Cook Islands national rugby league team

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.

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.

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.

The Cook Islands Squad for the World Cup Qualifier against United States in November 2019.[1]

Pos.	Player	Club
Fullback	Kayal Iro	Newcastle Knights
Wing	Paul Ulberg	Norths Devils
Wing	Reubenn Rennie	Mount Pritchard Mounties
Centre	Anthony Gelling	Warrington Wolves
Centre	Steven Marsters	South Sydney Rabbitohs
Five-eighth	Brad Takairangi	Parramatta Eels
Halfback	Troy Dargan	South Sydney Rabbitohs
Prop	Sam Mataora	Belconnen United Sharks
Hooker	Aaron Teroi	Central Queensland Capras
Prop	Uiti Baker	Newcastle Knights
Second-row	Alex Glenn (Captain)	Brisbane Broncos
Second-row	Dominique Peyroux	St Helens
Lock	Marata Niukore	Parramatta Eels
Five-eighth	Tevin Arona	Cantebury Bulls
Second-row	Brody Tamarua	New Zealand Warriors
Second-row	Moses Noovao-McGreal	Norths Devils
Second-row	Adam Tangata	Wakefield Trinity
Second-row	Journe Pua	New Zealand Warriors
Lock	Vincent Rennie	Mount Pritchard Mounties

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)