RUGBY LEAGUE NATION

 

 

Foundation Year - 1988

International Team - The Cooks

Highest finish in World Cup - One draw in Pool games (2000)

Top level domestic competition - The Cook Islands domestic competition includes 7 top level teams and runs from February to October.

History - The Cook Islands is a group of fifteen Islands located in the South Pacific. Cook Islands have been playing rugby league since 1988, when they took part in the Pacific Cup competition. The Cook Islands finished the tournament with only one win against Tokelau.

The Cook Islands were rewarded with their ongoing development of league with a place in the 1995 Emerging Nations World Cup. The ENWC was held alongside the main World Cup in the UK. The Cooks defied the odds by getting past Scotland to reach the final. In a close game the Cooks defeated Ireland 10 - 6 to win the Emerging Nations World Cup.

As another sign of their progress the Cook Islands gained entry into the 2000 RLWC. Cook Islands missed out on progressing pass the pool rounds. They lost Pool games against New Zealand and Wales by big margins. The Cook Islands could only manage a draw against newcomers Lebanon.

In 2005 the Cook Islands played the New Zealand Maori in a three game series. The games were telecast live throughout the South Pacific Islands and New Zealand via Maori TV. The Cook Islands were coached by Kevin Iro while the Maori had Tawera Nikau at the helm. In what was a tough fought series the Cook Islands drew the first game and then went on to win the remaining two games to win the series.

In 2006 the Cook Islands played in the 2008 World Cup Qualifiers against Samoa, Tonga and Fiji. The Cooks lost all there qualifying games and missed out on qualifying for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup finishing last in the pacific pool.

In early 2008 Kevin Iro was appointed as general member of the Cook Islands Tourism Board. Kevin Iro is arguably the most famous sports person to represent the Cook Islands in rugby league. His popularity at home and abroad is hoped to assist with putting the Cook Islands on the map as a tourist destination.

The Cook Islands played in the International 9's in Feb 2008 as part of a strategy to unearth more Cook Islands talent. The successful 2008 World Cup has also provided funds to assist rugby league nations like the Cook Islands to continue with the development of rugby league. It is hoped that Cook Islands will be able to field a stronger team and qualify for the 2013 Rugby League World Cup.

In early 2009 Cook Islands were ranked 14th in World seedings by the Rugby League International Federation (RLIF).

In late 2009 the Cook Islands shocked the rugby league world with it's on field performances. It all started when the Cooks defeated Samoa in a Pacific Cup qualifying match. Samoa were unbackable favourites to book a place in the Pacific Cup but someone forgot to tell the Cook Islands rugby league team. Against all the odds and against a team full of players from the NRL and Super League, the Cooks punched above their weight by defeating Samoa 22 - 10 and booking a place in the Pacific Cup.

Their giant killing run didn't stop there and they defeated Fiji the 2008 World Cup semi finalists a week later in Port Moresby booking a place in the Final against Papua New Guinea. Like all good fairytales their run came to an end when Papua New Guinea proved to strong on home soil defeating the Cooks 42 - 14. The Cook Islands Rugby League team put in a great effort during the end of year internationals and showed other pacific nations that they are serious about qualifying for the 2013 World Cup.

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