Cook Islands national rugby union team

Last updated
Cook Islands
Cook islands rugby logo.png
Union Cook Islands Rugby Union
Head coach Nathan Robinson
Captain Tupou Sopoaga
Kit left arm.svg
Kit bodycook islands rugby.png
Kit body.svg
Kit right arm.svg
Kit shorts.svg
Kit socks long.svg
First colours
World Rugby ranking
Current53 (as of 16 January 2023)
First international
Flag of Samoa.svg  Western Samoa 24–18 Flag of the Cook Islands.svg  Cook Islands
(1 September 1971)
Biggest win
Flag of the Cook Islands.svg  Cook Islands 86–0 Flag of French Polynesia.svg  Tahiti
(2 June 2001)
Biggest defeat
Flag of Fiji.svg  Fiji 108–6 Flag of the Cook Islands.svg  Cook Islands
(28 June 2014)

The Cook Islands is a third tier rugby union playing nation. They began playing international rugby in early 1971. Thus far, the Cook Islands have not made an appearance at any of the World Cups.

Contents

History

In 1924 a scratch team of Rarotongan boys, including the late Sir Albert Henry, played the All Black Invincibles on their way to the United Kingdom. The game was drawn 0–0. [1]

The Cook Islands played their first official international on September 1, 1971 against Western Samoa, losing 24 points to 18. The Cook Islands went on to win against Wallis and Futuna the next day and then lose again to Samoa the day after.

The next time the Cook Islands played was nine years later in 1980, in a close game against a touring Italian side; the Cook Islands won by 15 – 6. Three years later they again played Samoa, again losing. The next match for the Islanders wasn't until 1996, when they played Papua New Guinea. Since then, they play regularly against them and fellow Pacific sides Niue and Tahiti.

While Niue and the Cook Islands are not members of the Pacific Tri-Nations competition, they can supply players for the Pacific Islanders'. The first and still sole player from Cook Islands to have represented the Pacific Islanders was Tu Tamarua, in 2004.

The best Cook Islands rugby players often play in New Zealand where there is a large Cook Island population.

The Cook Islands entered the play-off round 4 against Tonga for a berth at the 2007 Rugby World Cup, but suffered heavy losses by 77–10 at home and 90–0 away, in 2006, being eliminated.

The Cook Islands entered recently Oceania Cup, but were surprisingly eliminated by Niue who beat them 18–7 at Rarotonga.

The 2013 Oceania Cup hosted by Papua New Guinea saw the Cook Islands record wins over Tahiti, Solomon Islands and the final hosts Papua New Guinea. [2] Cook Islands played and lost to Fiji in 2014 for the last spot (Oceania 1) at the 2015 Rugby World Cup. [3]

Overall Records

Below is table of the representative rugby matches played by an Cook Island's national XV at test level up until 25 July 2021. [4]

TeamMatWonLostDrawWin%Last playedForAgaDiff
Flag of Fiji.svg  Fiji 20200%20143161–148
Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong 20200%2018377–74
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 1100100%1980156+9
Flags of New Caledonia.svg  New Caledonia 2200100%20038213+69
Flag of New Zealand.svg  Māori All Blacks 10100%19921729–12
Flag of Niue.svg  Niue 752071.43%200919375+118
Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg  Papua New Guinea 743057.14%2013163153+10
Flag of Samoa.svg  Samoa 30300%31102–71
Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg  Solomon Islands 1100100%20133912+27
Flag of French Polynesia.svg  Tahiti 972077.78%2017419128+291
Flag of Tonga.svg  Tonga 40400%202132289–257
Flag of France.svg  Wallis and Futuna 1100100%19712918+11
Total402119052.5%10361063-27

World Cup record

YearRoundPositionPlayedWonDrewLostPts ForAgainst
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Flag of New Zealand.svg 1987 Not invited
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Flag of Ireland.svg Flag of France.svg 1991
Flag of South Africa.svg 1995
did not enter
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg 1999
Flag of France.svg 2023
did not qualify
Total

Current squad

Cook Islands squad for the 2023 Rugby World Cup Oceania qualifiers. [5]

Player Position Date of birth (age)CapsClub/province
Benjamin Tou Hooker (1988-02-15)15 February 1988 (aged 31)1 Flag of New Zealand.svg Waipu Rugby Club
James Pakoti Hooker (2000-09-08) 8 September 2000 (age 23) Flag of New Zealand.svg Martinborough Rugby Club
Ezekiel Sopoaga Prop (2000-06-29) 29 June 2000 (age 23)1 Flag of New Zealand.svg Petone
Alex Matapo Prop (1982-05-26)26 May 1982 (aged 37) Flag of New Zealand.svg Ponsonby
Antonio Ripata Prop (1996-08-28) 28 August 1996 (age 27)1 Flag of New Zealand.svg Auckland Rugby Football Club
Tuakana Paitai Prop (1998-11-28) 28 November 1998 (age 24)2 Flag of New Zealand.svg Morrinsville
Toru Katuke Prop (1999-11-27) 27 November 1999 (age 23) Flag of the Cook Islands.svg Avatiu Nikao Eels
Tahquinn Hansen Lock (1995-10-19) 19 October 1995 (age 28)1 Flag of New Zealand.svg Grammar Tech
James Kora Lock (1994-04-18) 18 April 1994 (age 29)4 Flag of New Zealand.svg Kerikeri Rugby Club
Oneal Rongo Lock (2000-11-28) 28 November 2000 (age 22)4 Flag of New Zealand.svg Kerikeri Rugby Club
Josh Caffrey Flanker (2000-12-20) 20 December 2000 (age 22) Flag of the Cook Islands.svg Avatiu Nikao Eels
Jardine Pumati Chung-Ching Flanker (1996-10-28) 28 October 1996 (age 27)1 Flag of New Zealand.svg Hastings Rugby Sports
Francis Smith Flanker (1985-05-05) 5 May 1985 (age 38) Flag of the Cook Islands.svg Arorangi Bears
Tupou Sopoaga (c) Flanker (1992-06-05) 5 June 1992 (age 31)1 Flag of New Zealand.svg Petone
Robert Heather Flanker (1992-05-25) 25 May 1992 (age 31)3 Flag of the Cook Islands.svg Arorangi Bears
Leroy Henry-Jack Number 8 (1993-04-04) 4 April 1993 (age 30)1 Flag of New Zealand.svg Pakuranga United
Toka Sopoaga Scrum-half (1994-08-16) 16 August 1994 (age 29)1 Flag of New Zealand.svg Harbour Rugby Club Otago
Allan Toki Scrum-half (1994-08-26) 26 August 1994 (age 29) Flag of New Zealand.svg Temuka Rugby Club
Te Puhi Rudolph Fly-half (1994-11-28) 28 November 1994 (age 28)1 Flag of New Zealand.svg Muriwhenua Rugby Club
Reece Joyce Fly-half (1992-03-29) 29 March 1992 (age 31) Flag of New Zealand.svg Bombay Rugby Club
Leon Ellia-Niukore Centre (1997-11-28) 28 November 1997 (age 25)1 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Souths Rugby CLub
Junior Taia Centre (2000-10-16) 16 October 2000 (age 23)1 Flag of New Zealand.svg Shirley Rugby Club
Gideon Kautai Centre (2000-12-01) 1 December 2000 (age 22)1 Flag of New Zealand.svg Hastings Rugby Sports
Tevita Niusama Wing (2001-08-08) 8 August 2001 (age 22)1 Flag of the Cook Islands.svg Avatiu Nikao Eels
Materua Tupou Wing (1990-11-28) 28 November 1990 (age 32)1 Flag of New Zealand.svg Pirates Old Boys
Matamanea Matapakia Fullback (1994-01-13) 13 January 1994 (age 29)3 Flag of New Zealand.svg Geraldine Rugby Club
Mataroa Maui Fullback (1993-04-15) 15 April 1993 (age 30) Flag of New Zealand.svg Excelsior Rugby Club

Notable players

See also

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References

  1. "Albert Royle Henry". Cook Islands Sports and National Olympic Committee. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
  2. IRB.COM (14 February 2014). "One win, one dream for ambitious Cooks". Archived from the original on 17 May 2014. Retrieved 15 May 2014.
  3. IRB.COM (15 July 2013). "Cook Islands to play Fiji for a place at RWC". Archived from the original on 17 May 2014. Retrieved 15 May 2014.
  4. "team records". espnscrum. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
  5. "Cook Islands name 14 new caps to face 'Ikale Tahi". 23 July 2021.