Cook Islands national rugby league team

Last updated

Cook Islands
Cook Islands Rugby League logo.svg
Team information
NicknameThe Kuki's
Governing body Cook Islands Rugby League Association
Region Asia-Pacific
Head coach Karmichael Hunt
Captain Esan Marsters
IRL ranking 10th
Uniforms
Kit left arm yellow hoops.png
Kit left arm.svg
Kit body.svg
Kit right arm yellow hoops.png
Kit right arm.svg
Kit shorts.svg
Kit socks long.svg
First colours
Team results
First international
Flag of the Cook Islands.svg  Cook Islands 22-8 Niue  Flag of Niue.svg
(Rarotonga, Cook Islands; 1986)
Biggest win
Flag of the Cook Islands.svg  Cook Islands 66-6 South Africa  Flag of South Africa.svg
(Sydney, Australia; 2019)
Biggest defeat
Flag of Tonga.svg  Tonga 92-10 Cook Islands  Flag of the Cook Islands.svg
(Middlesbrough, England; 31 October 2022)
World Cup
Appearances3 (first time in 2000 )
Best resultGroup stage, 2000; 2013; 2021.

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 three Rugby League World Cups, in 2000, 2013 and 2021, and are coached by Karmichael Hunt.

Contents

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 [1] 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, [2] 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. [3]

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. At the 2021 Rugby League World Cup, the Cook Islands narrowly beat part timers Wales 18-12 before losing their second group stage match against Papua New Guinea. In their final group stage match, the Cook Islands suffered their worst ever defeat as they were beaten 92-10 by Tonga at the Riverside Stadium. [4]

Players

Current squad

The Cook Islands squad for the 2023 Pacific Rugby League Championships. The squad was announced on 10 October 2023. [5]
Statistics in this table are compiled from the website, Rugby League Project.

J#PlayerAgePosition(s)Cook IslandsClubNRLSLOther Reps
DbtMTGFPCMTMCMTM
1 Esom Ioka — Fullback , Centre 2023221010Flag of Australia (converted).svg Toowoomba Clydesdales colours.svg Western Clydesdales —000
2 Malachi Morgan — Wing 202320000Flag of Australia (converted).svg Western Suburbs colours.svg Tweed Heads Seagulls —000
3 Kayal Iro 21 Centre , Fullback 201981004Flag of Australia (converted).svg Newtown colours.svg Newtown Jets —100
4 Alvin Maungatti — Centre 202310000—000
5 Steven Marsters 24 Wing 20198424064Flag of Australia (converted).svg Thirroul Butchers Colours.png Thirroul Butchers —600
6 Brad Takairangi 34 Five-eighth 20091213010Flag of Australia (converted).svg Dapto Canaries Colours.png Dapto Canaries —178024Tino Rangatiratanga Maori sovereignty movement flag.svg 2 New Zealand Kiwis colours.svg 4
7 Esan Marsters 27 Halfback , Centre 201582008Flag of England.svg Giantscolours.svg Huddersfield Giants —862121Tino Rangatiratanga Maori sovereignty movement flag.svg 4 New Zealand Kiwis colours.svg 6
8 Davvy Moale 20 Prop 202262008Flag of Australia (converted).svg South Sydney colours.svg South Sydney Rabbitohs 313100
9 Ruatapu Ngatikaura 23 Hooker 202240000Flag of Australia (converted).svg Western Suburbs colours.svg Western Suburbs Magpies —000
17 Takai Mokohar 25 Second-row 202320000Flag of Australia (converted).svg Toowoomba Clydesdales colours.svg Western Clydesdales —000
11 Zane Tetevano 33 Second-row 2009100000Flag of England.svg Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds Rhinos —1224747Tino Rangatiratanga Maori sovereignty movement flag.svg 1 New Zealand Kiwis colours.svg 3
12 Reuben Porter 26 Second-row 201760000Flag of Australia (converted).svg North Sydney colours.svg North Sydney Bears —000
13 Pride Petterson-Robati 28 Lock 201950000Flag of Australia (converted).svg Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Burleigh Bears —000
14 Kadiyae Ioka — Five-eighth 202320000Flag of New Zealand.svg Swintoncolours.svg Glenora Bears —000
15 Rhys Dakin — Prop 202320000Flag of Australia (converted).svg Newtown colours.svg Newtown Jets —000
16 Justin Makirere — Prop 202320000Flag of Australia (converted).svg Norths Devils colours.svg Norths Devils —000
10 William Samuel 26 Prop 202310000Flag of Australia (converted).svg Wynnum-Manly Colours.svg Wynnum Manly Seagulls —000
18 Isaiah Cooper-Tetevano 28 Second-row 202311004Flag of Australia (converted).svg Mackay Cutters colours.svg Mackay Cutters —000
19 Lucky Pokipoki — Prop —00000Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ipswich Colours.svg Ipswich Jets —000
– Tevin Arona 28 Halfback 201931004Flag of New Zealand.svg Penrith Panthers square flag icon with 2020 colours.svg Hornby Panthers —000
– Makahesi Makatoa 30 Prop 201581004Flag of Australia (converted).svg Parramatta colours.svg Parramatta Eels 464602

Notes

Competitive record

Below is table of the representative rugby matches played by a Cook Islands national XIII at test level up until 6 November 2023. [6]

OpponentMatchesWonDrawnLostWin %ForAgaDiff
Flag of American Samoa.svg  American Samoa 1100100%2220+2
Flag of Fiji.svg  Fiji 1351738.46%219349–130
Four Provinces Flag.svg  Ireland 1100100%226+16
Flag of Lebanon.svg  Lebanon 321066.67%8066+14
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 20020%10134–124
Tino Rangatiratanga Maori sovereignty movement flag.svg New Zealand Maori 1241733.33%216312–96
Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand 20020%10134–124
Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand XIII 20020%662–56
Flag of Niue.svg  Niue 320166.67%6774–7
Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg  Papua New Guinea 70070%94270–176
Flag of Rotuma (1987-1988).svg Rotuma 10010%1017–17
Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 1100100%5820+38
Flag of Samoa.svg  Samoa 920722.22%128386–258
Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 1100100%2110+11
Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 1100100%666+60
Flag of Tokelau.svg  Tokelau 1100100%1910+9
Flag of Tonga.svg  Tonga 1210118.33%151425–274
Flag of the United States.svg  United States 320166.67%12256+66
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 320166.67%5274–22
Total782634933.33%13732431–1058

Rugby League World Cup

Rugby League World Cup record
YearResultPositionPldWDLPFPA
Flag of France.svg 1954 did not participate
Flag of Australia (converted).svg 1957
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg 1960
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Flag of New Zealand.svg 1968
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg 1970
Flag of France.svg 1972
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Flag of France.svg Flag of New Zealand.svg Flag of the United Kingdom.svg 1975
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Flag of New Zealand.svg 1977
1985–88
1989–92
Flag of England.svg 1995 did not qualify
Flag of England.svg Flag of France.svg Four Provinces Flag.svg Flag of Scotland.svg Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg 2000 Group stage13th301238144
Flag of Australia (converted).svg 2008 did not qualify
Flag of England.svg Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg 2013 Group stage9th31026478
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Flag of New Zealand.svg Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg 2017 did not qualify
Flag of England.svg 2021 Group stage11th310244136
Total––9216146358

Other competitions

The Cook Islands have also participated in:

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ireland national rugby league team</span> Represents Ireland in international rugby league

The Ireland men's national rugby league team, known as the Wolfhounds, is organised by Rugby League Ireland and represents Ireland in international rugby league. The representative team is composed largely of players of Irish descent who compete in the Super League as well as the Australasian National Rugby League. Ireland is also represented by an Ireland A side, which is made up of players from the Irish domestic competition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Papua New Guinea national rugby league team</span> National rugby team

The Papua New Guinea national rugby league team represents Papua New Guinea in the sport of rugby league football.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Samoa national rugby union team</span> National rugby union team of Samoa

The Samoa national rugby union team represents the Samoa Rugby Union in men's international rugby union. They are also known as Manu Samoa, which is thought to derive from the name of a Samoan warrior. They perform a traditional Samoan challenge called the siva tau before each game. Samoa Rugby Union were formerly members of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance (PIRA) along with Fiji and Tonga. They are ranked 11th in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tonga national rugby union team</span> Rugby union team

The Tonga national rugby union team represents the Tonga Rugby Union in men's international rugby union. The team is nicknamed ʻIkale Tahi . Like their Polynesian neighbours, the Tongans start their matches with a traditional challenge – the Sipi Tau. They are members of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance (PIRA) along with Fiji and Samoa. The Ikale Tahi achieved a historic 19–14 victory over France in the 2011 Rugby World Cup, but having lost to New Zealand and Canada, were unable to achieve what would have been their first-ever presence at the quarter-finals.

The Pacific Tri-Nations was the traditional rugby union series between Tonga, Fiji and Samoa. It was established in 1982 with the Samoan team, then known as Western Samoa, winning the tournament. In 2006 it was replaced by the IRB Pacific 5 Nations which was then renamed the Pacific Nations Cup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tonga national rugby league team</span> Tonga national rugby league team

The Tonga national rugby league team represents Tonga in rugby league football. They are currently the fifth ranked team in the world. The team was formed to compete in the 1986 Pacific Cup, and have competed at six Rugby League World Cups, starting in 1995 and continuing consecutively until the most recent tournament. Their best result was at the 2017 Rugby League World Cup, where they were semi-finalists.

The Fiji national rugby league team, nicknamed the Bati, has been participating in international rugby league football since 1992. The team is controlled by the governing body for rugby league in Fiji, Fiji National Rugby League (FNRL), which is currently a member of the Asia-Pacific Rugby League Confederation (APRLC). Fiji have thrice reached the semi-finals of the Rugby League World Cup, in 2008, 2013 and 2017, and are currently ranked 6th in the International Rugby League's World Rankings. They are coached by Fijian Wise Kativerata, and their captain is Kevin Naiqama.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pacific Cup</span>

The Pacific Cup was a rugby league football competition for national teams from the Pacific region.

This is a history of the Tonga national rugby league team.

The Pacifica Cup was an international cricket tournament contested in 2001 and 2002 by teams from the Pacific Islands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2009 Pacific Cup</span>

The 2009 Pacific Cup, known as the 2009 SP Brewery Pacific Cup due to sponsorship, was a rugby league competition held in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. The competing teams were the Cook Islands, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sport in Oceania</span>

Sport in Oceania varies from country to country. The most popular playing sport for men in Australia is Australian rules football, while for women is netball. Australian rules football is the most popular sport in terms of spectatorship and television ratings. Rugby union is the most popular sport among New Zealanders, while in Papua New Guinea rugby league is the most popular. While, Cricket is the most popular overall sport in Oceania.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Solomone Kata</span> NZ & Tonga international Rugby union footballer

Solomone Kata is a professional dual-code rugby footballer who plays as a wing for Premiership Rugby club Leicester Tigers and the Tonga national team.

The 2017 Women's Rugby League World Cup was the fifth staging of the Women's Rugby League World Cup and was held in Australia between 16 November and 2 December 2017. Pool and semi-final matches was held at Southern Cross Group Stadium in Sydney, with the final held at Brisbane Stadium. The final was played as a double-header with the men's final.

This is a list of international rugby league matches played throughout 2016. A † denotes a recognised, but unofficial match that did not contribute to the IRL World Rankings.

The 2015 Pacific Rugby League International was split into two games. The first was the Melanesian Cup between Papua New Guinea and Fiji. The second was the Polynesian Cup between Samoa and Tonga.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 Oceania Cup (rugby league)</span>

The 2019 Oceania Cup was the inaugural edition of the Oceania Cup. Contested by six teams, the competition began in June and concluded in November.

The Rugby League Pacific Championship is a rugby league tournament for national teams in Oceania. Its inaugural tournament was in 2019. Of the seven Oceanian teams, six compete across two divisions of three teams, while a rotating seventh goes on tour.

The 2023 Rugby League Pacific Championships was the second edition of the Rugby League Pacific Championship and the first under its current name. The championship included a collection of international rugby league tournaments to be played from October to November 2023 between nations located in the Pacific region.

References

  1. ↑ "Wales vs. Cook Islands". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  2. ↑ "Fiji thrash the Cook Islands in league world cup qualifier". RNZ. 9 October 2006. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  3. ↑ "Cook Islands book place in Pacific Cup with impressive win". RNZ. 18 October 2009. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  4. ↑ "Tonga 92-10 Cook Islands: Tonga close Rugby League World Cup group in style". BBC Sport.
  5. ↑ "Pacific Championships Team Lists: Week 1". National Rugby League. 10 October 2023. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  6. ↑ "Head to Head". Rugby League Planet. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.