Cook Islands national rugby league team

Not to be confused with Cook Islands national rugby union team.

Cook Islands

Governing body	Cook Islands Rugby League Association
Region	Oceania
Head coach	David Fairleigh
Captain	Tere Glassie
Home stadium	Avarua National Stadium
RLIF ranking	17th
Colours
First international
Niue 8–22 Cook Islands (Rarotonga, Cook Islands; 1986)
Biggest win
United States 8–64 Cook Islands (Featherstone, England; 1995)
Biggest defeat
New Zealand 84–10 Cook Islands (Reading, England; 2000)
World Cup
Appearances	1 (first time in 2000)
Best result	1st round, 2000

The Cook Islands national rugby league team has been participating in international rugby league football competition since 1986.

History

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 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.

2012 Squad

Cook Islands
First team squad								Coaching staff
1 Drury Low - FB 2 Dominique Peyroux - WG 3 Lulia Lulia - CE 4 Japeth Vaoa - CE 5 Geoff Daniela - WG 6 Chris Taripo - SO 7 Isaac John - SH 8 Tinirau Arona - PR 9 Nathaniel Peteru - HK 10 Zane Tetevano - PR 11 Monikura Tikinau - SR 12 Neccrom Areaiiti - SR 13 Zeb Taia - LF, SR		14 Jeremiah Nia - HK 15 Tupou Sopoaga - PR 16 Adam Tangata - SR 17 Aaron Nootai - PR 18 Tyrone Viiga - CE 19 Byron Ford - WG 20 Jonathan Ford - SO 21 Sam Brunton - HK 22 Sam Mataora - PR 23 Dylan Napa - SR 24 Brad Takairangi - SR 25 Anthony Gelling - CE 26 Keith Lulia - CE						Head coach David Fairleigh Assistant coach Karl Temata Legend: (c) Captain (vc) Vice captain

2008 World Cup Qualifying

See 2008 Rugby League World Cup qualifying

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.

2013 Rugby League World Cup

The Cook Islands were given automatic entry into the 2013 Rugby League World Cup they were placed in Pool D alongside Wales and the Atlantic Qualifier.

Competitions

The Cook Islands have participated in:

• Pacific Cup (since 1986)
• World Cup (since 1995)
• Super League World Nines (1996,1997)
• Super League Oceania Tournament (1997)
• Papua New Guinea 50th Anniversary Tournament (1998)
• Pacific Rim Competition (2004)

Results

RLIF World Rankings
Top 28 Rankings as of November 2012
Rank	Change	Team	Points
1		Australia	1,303.00
2		New Zealand	916.00
3		England	671.00
4	1	France	267.00
5
6	3	Tonga	62.00
13		Italy	54.00
14	2	Russia	42.00
15	1	Serbia	39.00
16	2	Lebanon	37.00
17	5	Cook Islands	36.00
18	3	Canada	33.00
19	1	Norway	30.00
20	3	Germany	29.00
21	1	Malta	25.00
22		Jamaica	20.00
23		Ukraine	15.00
24	2	South Africa	14.00
25	3	Latvia	10.00
26	2	Czech Republic	7.00
27		Denmark	6.00
28	1	Sweden	2.00

• Cook Islands defeat Lebanon 28–24, October 2012
• Cook Islands defeat Fiji 24–22, October 2009
• Cook Islands defeat Samoa 22–20, October 2009
• New Zealand Māori def. Cook Islands 24–12, December 2006
• Cook Islands def. New Zealand Māori 18–16, December 2006
• Cook Islands def. New Zealand Māori 24–16, 16 October 2005 (Curtainraiser:New Zealand Māori under 18s def. Cook Islands under 18s 38–26)
• Cook Islands v New Zealand Māori 13 October 2005
• Cook Islands drew with New Zealand Māoris 26-all (8 October 2005) (Curtainraiser:Cook Islands under 18 def New Zealand Māori 20–14)
• Cook Islands def. New Zealand Māoris 46–4 (23 October 2004)
• Cook Islands def. Fiji 20–12 (21 October 2004)
• Cook Islands def. American Samoa 28–12 (20 October 2004)
• Cook Islands def. Tonga 18–10 (19 October 2004)
• Tonga def. Cook Islands 22–17 (17 October 2004)
• Tonga def. Cook Islands 38–30 (4 October 2004)
• Cook Islands def. Fiji 22–14 (27 August 2004)
• Cook Islands def. Fiji 36–24 (17 August 2004)
• Cook Islands drew with Lebanon 22–22 (5 November 2000)
• New Zealand def. Cook Islands 84–10 (2 November 2000)
• Wales def. Cook Islands 38–6 (29 October 2000)
• Tonga def. Cook Islands 34–4 (1999)
• Tonga def. Cook Islands 42–2 (1999)
• Tonga def. Cook Islands 28–13) (1999)
• Cook Islands def. Tokelau 22–16 (1998)
• American Samoa def. Cook Islands 40–34 (1998)
• New Zealand Māoris def. Cook Islands 28–6 (1998)
• Tonga def. Cook Islands 30–22 (1998)
• Cook Islands def. New Zealand Māoris 16–8 (1998)
• Papua New Guinea def. Cook Islands 46–6 (1998)
• New Zealand Māoris def. Cook Islands 24–4 (1998)
• Cook Islands def. New Zealand Māoris 18–10 (1998)
• New Zealand Māoris def. Cook Islands 24–14 (1998)
• Tonga def. Cook Islands 16–8 (1998)
• Papua New Guinea def. Cook Islands 34–14 (1997)
• Papua New Guinea def. Cook Islands 38–14 (1997)
• Cook Islands def. Fiji 22–14 (1997)
• Fiji def. Cook Islands 14–8 (1996)
• Cook Islands def. Ireland 10–6 (24 October 1995)
• Cook Islands def. Scotland 21–10 (20 October 1995)
• Cook Islands def. Russia 58–4 (18 October 1995)
• Cook Islands def. USA 64–8 (16 October 1995)
• Fiji def. Cook Islands 54–6 (1992)
• Western Samoa def. Cook Islands 66–12 (1992)
• Tonga def. Cook Islands 26–6 (1992)
• Cook Islands def. Niue 23–22 (1992)
• New Zealand Māoris def. Cook Islands 70–10 (1988)
• Western Samoa def. Cook Islands 52–16 (1988)
• Cook Islands def. Tokelau 19–10 (1988)
• Western Samoa def Cook Islands 48-0 (1986)
• New Zealand Māori's def Cook Islands 32-10 (1986)
• Cook Islands def. Niue 22-8 (1986)

See also

• Rugby league in the Cook Islands

External links

• Google-Video