Notable players
 | This article contains embedded lists that may be poorly defined, unverified or indiscriminate .(February 2017) |
Rugby league is the most popular [1] team sport played in the Cook Islands. Rugby league is recognised as the national sport of the country.
Officially the club rugby league competition commenced in 1980. The first international match was played against Niue at the 1986 Pacific Cup, which was hosted in Rarotonga and also included teams from Samoa, Tonga, NZ Maori and Tokelau. In the mid 1990s rugby league received significant funding through the SuperLeague organisation.[ citation needed ] Traditionally, much of the rugby league played by Cook Islanders has been in Australia and New Zealand where there are strong Cook Island populations.[ citation needed ]
In more recent times, Cook Islands rugby league has received a major boost through the involvement of former professional rugby league players Kevin Iro and Matt Rua - both native Cook Islanders - in the form of selector and defensive coach for the national side. [2] Both players represented New Zealand internationally and played many NRL games.
Rugby league is the national sport and the most popular sport in the Cook Islands.
NRL
| This article contains embedded lists that may be poorly defined, unverified or indiscriminate .(February 2017) |
 | This article needs to be updated.(February 2017) |
The domestic Cook Islands rugby league competition begins in early February on a yearly basis. The Tournament is arguably the biggest sporting competition in the Cook Islands with hundreds attending games on the Islands of Rarotonga and Aitutaki. Grand Final weekend builds the biggest hype among supporters of every team ranging from its junior levels, reserve grade and the main A grade (Premier level).
Notable Local Cook Islands Players
Turori Matutu | Clive Nicholas | Conrad Piri | Terry Piri | Andre Iro | Jean Pierre Rongokea | Mau George | Teu Paerau | Alex Roa | Leo Roa | David Paulo | James Kora | Stephen Willis | David Napa | Hugh Henry | Jaqcue Henry | Messine Messine | Teokotai Tuaivi | Ozwald Tunupopo | Tai Joseph | Lui Nicholas | Josh Caffrey | Andrew Tereinga Henry | Jason Potoru | Robert Heather | James Strickland |
Over the years there has been many notable superstars who has competed in this tournament from outside the country.
NOTABLE FOREIGN PLAYERS
Peniasi Dakuwaqa | Mafu Kalas | Sione Lauaki |Eroni Sau | Towari Kenake | Martin Yami | Mel Issac | Tua Ravula | Kelepi Gabby Komaisavou | Lai Rogorogoivalu | Jovilisi Naqitawa | Feleti Iona | Tevita Niusama | John Penu | Sailosi Nagi | Duane Gukisuva | Stanley Olo | Joe Vedaukula | Ratu Saurara | Viiga Reupena |
Number of Premiership Championships
Aitutaki Sharks | 0
Arorangi Bears | 1
Avatiu Eels | 6
Ngatangiia/Matavera Sea Eagles | 10
Takuvaine Warriors | 0
Titikaveka Bulldogs | 4
Tupapa Panthers | 6
Note these aren't accurate numbers as some years of the comp has not been recorded into the history books unfortunately.
In 2005 the Cook Islands Rugby League Avaiki XIII Tri Series was played between three Cook Island sides (Australian Cook Island Style, NZ Cooks and a Resident XIII). The winners of the series were the Australian Cook Islands Style team. This was used to select the national side that drew a three match series with the New Zealand Māori
NZ Cooks v Resident XIII, 25 November 2005
Australian Cook Island Style 26 NZ Cooks 14
Australian Cook Island Style 24 Residents XIII 18, 18 November 2005 changed
Rarotonga is the largest and most populous of the Cook Islands. The island is volcanic, with an area of 67.39 km2 (26.02 sq mi), and is home to almost 75% of the country's population, with 13,007 of a total population of 17,434. The Cook Islands' Parliament buildings and international airport are on Rarotonga. Rarotonga is a very popular tourist destination with many resorts, hotels and motels. The chief town, Avarua, on the north coast, is the capital of the Cook Islands.
Tower Insurance Premiership is the top division of the Cook Islands Football Association in Cook Islands. The winner qualifies for the OFC Champions League.
Cook Islands Cup is the top knockout tournament of the Cook Islands Football Association in Cook Islands.
Waikato Rugby League is the local sporting body responsible for the administration of rugby league in the Waikato region of New Zealand. The WRL are represented by the Waikato rugby league team. They are currently part of the Upper Central Zone along with Coastline Rugby League and Bay of Plenty Rugby League.
Jordan Rapana is a professional rugby league footballer who plays as a winger for the Canberra Raiders in the NRL. He has played for the New Zealand Māori, New Zealand and the Cook Islands at international level.
A Tapere or Sub-District is a low level of traditional land subdivision on five of the Southern Cook Islands, comparable to the ahupua'a of the main Hawaiian Islands or to the kousapw of Pohnpei. Among the populated raised islands, only Mitiaro is not subdivided into tapere. The remaining Southern Cook Islands, Manuae, Palmerston and Takutea are atolls and/or uninhabited, and therefore not subject to this type of traditional subdivision. The atolls of the Northern Cook Islands are subdivided into motu, instead.
The following candidates have announced their intention to run in the 2010 Cook Islands general election.
Sonny Shepherd is a Cook Island former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1990s and 2000s. He played at representative level for the Cook Islands, and at club level for Ngatangiia/Matavera Sea Eagles.
The sport of football in the country of Cook Islands is run by the Cook Islands Football Association, a full member of the OFC and FIFA. The association administers the national football team. CIFA registered 13 full members as in football clubs, 6 Rarotonga Football Clubs ; 7 Island associations Aitutaki Football Association, Atiu Football Association, Mangaia Football Association, Mauke Football Association, Mitiaro Football Association, Pukapuka Football Association and Rakahanga Football Association; and 3 associate members, Manihiki, Nassau and Penrhyn.
Cook Islands Netball Association is the national body which oversees, promotes and manages netball in Cook Islands. The Cook Islands Netball Association is a member of Oceania Netball Federation.
The 2013 New Zealand rugby league season was the 106th season of rugby league that had been played in New Zealand. The main feature of the year was the National Competition run by the New Zealand Rugby League. The competition was won by the Akarana Falcons, who defeated the Counties Manukau Stingrays 22-12 in the final.
The 1988–89 season of the Cook Islands Round Cup was the twenty fifth recorded season of top flight association football competition in the Cook Islands, with any results between 1951 and 1969 and also in 1986 and 1988–1990 currently unknown. Tupapa Maraerenga won the championship, their third recorded championship, although other sources suggest that their victories in 1992 and 1993 were won by Takuvaine and Avatiu respectively.
The 2010 season of the Cook Islands Round Cup, named the "Lotto Premier Men's Competition" for sponsorship reasons, was the thirty seventh recorded season of top flight association football competition in the Cook Islands, with any results between 1951 and 1969 and also in 1986 and 1988–1990 currently unknown. Tupapa Maraerenga won the championship, their eighth recorded championship, although other sources suggest that their victories in 1992 and 1993 were won by Takuvaine and Avatiu respectively. Nikao Sokattack were runners-up, with Takuvaine finishing in third place.
The 2012 season of the Cook Islands Round Cup was the thirty ninth recorded season of top flight association football competition in the Cook Islands, with any results between 1951 and 1969 and also in 1986 and 1988–1990 currently unknown. Tupapa Maraerenga won the championship, and qualified for the 2013–14 OFC Champions League. This was their tenth recorded championship, although other sources suggest that their victories in 1992 and 1993 were won by Takuvaine and Avatiu respectively. It was also their second hat trick of titles following their successes in the 2001, 2002 and 2003 seasons. Nikao Sokattack were runners-up, with Arorangi finishing in third place.
The 2016 New Zealand rugby league season was the 109th season of rugby league that had been played in New Zealand. The main feature of the year was the re-formatted National Competition, run by the New Zealand Rugby League. The competition was won by the Akarana Falcons.
The 2017 New Zealand rugby league season was the 110th season of rugby league that had been played in New Zealand. The main feature of the year was the National Competition, run by the New Zealand Rugby League. The New Zealand national rugby league team also competed at the 2017 Rugby League World Cup.
The 2019 Cook Islands Round Cup was the 46th recorded edition of the Cook Islands Round Cup, the top association football league of the Cook Islands organised by the Cook Islands Football Association. This season kicked off on 2 August 2019, and was competed by six teams from the island of Rarotonga in triple round-robin format. Tupapa Maraerenga won the league for the third straight year and qualified for the 2020 OFC Champions League, though they withdrew from that competition in the group stage.
The 2020 Cook Islands Round Cup is the 47th recorded edition of the Cook Islands Round Cup, the top association football league of the Cook Islands organised by the Cook Islands Football Association. The season began on 14 August 2020 with six teams from the island of Rarotonga competing in triple round-robin format. Tupapa Maraerenga are the defending champions, having won the league for three straight years. The champions of the league will qualify for the 2021 OFC Champions League.
