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' best squad for the World Cup 2022, coached by Tony Iro, Assistant Coach and Team Manager Vu Turaki.

Pos.	Player	Club
Fullback	Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad	Canberra Raiders
Wing	Valentine Holmes	North Queensland Cowboys
Wing	Jordan Rapana	Canberra Raiders
Centre	Esan Marsters	Gold Coast Titans
Centre	Steven Marsters	South Sydney Rabbitohs
Five-eighth	Brad Takairangi	Hull Kingston Rovers
Halfback	Joseph Manu	Sydney Roosters
Prop	Dylan Napa	Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Hooker	Troy Dargan	South Sydney Rabbitohs
Prop	Francis Molo	North Queensland Cowboys
Second-row	Alex Glenn (Captain)	Brisbane Broncos
Second-row	TC Robati	Brisbane Broncos
Lock	Marata Niukore	Parramatta Eels
Hooker	Sione Katoa	Panthers
Second Row /Prop	Zane Tetevano	Leeds Rhinos
Second-row	Brendan Piakura	Brisbane Broncos
Lock	Tepai Moeroa	Melbourne Storm
Prop	Josh Papalii	Canberra Raiders
Second-Row	Joseph Tapine	Canberra Raiders
Prop	James Tamou	Wests Tigers

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)

Below are the previous 5 matches of the national team. For all past match results, see the team's results page.

16 November 2019 17:00

Cook Islands	38–16	United States

Hodges Stadium, Jacksonville Attendance: 2,621

21 June 2019 19:00

Cook Islands	66–6	South Africa

Ringrose Park, Sydney Attendance: 2,621

6 May 2017 15:15

Papua New Guinea	32–22	Cook Islands

Campbelltown Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 18,271

8 May 2016 15:00

Cook Islands	30–20	Lebanon
	Report

Belmore Oval, Sydney Attendance: 2,000

17 October 2015 20:00

Tonga	28–8	Cook Islands
	Report

Campbelltown Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 4,813