Cook Islands national rugby union team

Summary

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.

Cook Islands
Shirt badge/Association crest
UnionCook Islands Rugby Union
Head coachNathan Robinson
CaptainTupou Sopoaga
First colours
World Rugby ranking
Current53 (as of 16 January 2023)
First international
 Western Samoa 24–18  Cook Islands
(1 September 1971)
Biggest win
 Cook Islands 86–0  Tahiti
(2 June 2001)
Biggest defeat
 Fiji 108–6  Cook Islands
(28 June 2014)

History edit

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 edit

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]

Team Mat Won Lost Draw Win% Last played For Aga Diff
  Fiji 2 0 2 0 0% 2014 3 161 –148
  Hong Kong 2 0 2 0 0% 2018 3 77 –74
  Italy 1 1 0 0 100% 1980 15 6 +9
  New Caledonia 2 2 0 0 100% 2003 82 13 +69
  Māori All Blacks 1 0 1 0 0% 1992 17 29 –12
  Niue 7 5 2 0 71.43% 2009 193 75 +118
  Papua New Guinea 7 4 3 0 57.14% 2013 163 153 +10
  Samoa 3 0 3 0 0% 31 102 –71
  Solomon Islands 1 1 0 0 100% 2013 39 12 +27
  Tahiti 9 7 2 0 77.78% 2017 419 128 +291
  Tonga 4 0 4 0 0% 2021 32 289 –257
  Wallis and Futuna 1 1 0 0 100% 1971 29 18 +11
Total 40 21 19 0 52.5% 1036 1063 -27

World Cup record edit

Year Round Position Played Won Drew Lost Pts For Against
   1987 Not invited
    1991
  1995
did not enter
  1999
  2023
did not qualify
Total

Current squad edit

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

  • Head Coach:   Nathan Robinson
Player Position Date of birth (age) Caps Club/province
Benjamin Tou Hooker (1988-02-15)15 February 1988 (aged 31) 1   Waipu Rugby Club
James Pakoti Hooker (2000-09-08) 8 September 2000 (age 23)   Martinborough Rugby Club
Ezekiel Sopoaga Prop (2000-06-29) 29 June 2000 (age 23) 1   Petone
Alex Matapo Prop (1982-05-26)26 May 1982 (aged 37)   Ponsonby
Antonio Ripata Prop (1996-08-28) 28 August 1996 (age 27) 1   Auckland Rugby Football Club
Tuakana Paitai Prop (1998-11-28) 28 November 1998 (age 25) 2   Morrinsville
Toru Katuke Prop (1999-11-27) 27 November 1999 (age 24)   Avatiu Nikao Eels
Tahquinn Hansen Lock (1995-10-19) 19 October 1995 (age 28) 1   Grammar Tech
James Kora Lock (1994-04-18) 18 April 1994 (age 29) 4   Kerikeri Rugby Club
Oneal Rongo Lock (2000-11-28) 28 November 2000 (age 23) 4   Kerikeri Rugby Club
Josh Caffrey Flanker (2000-12-20) 20 December 2000 (age 23)   Avatiu Nikao Eels
Jardine Pumati Chung-Ching Flanker (1996-10-28) 28 October 1996 (age 27) 1   Hastings Rugby Sports
Francis Smith Flanker (1985-05-05) 5 May 1985 (age 38)   Arorangi Bears
Tupou Sopoaga (c) Flanker (1992-06-05) 5 June 1992 (age 31) 1   Petone
Robert Heather Flanker (1992-05-25) 25 May 1992 (age 31) 3   Arorangi Bears
Leroy Henry-Jack Number 8 (1993-04-04) 4 April 1993 (age 30) 1   Pakuranga United
Toka Sopoaga Scrum-half (1994-08-16) 16 August 1994 (age 29) 1   Harbour Rugby Club Otago
Allan Toki Scrum-half (1994-08-26) 26 August 1994 (age 29)   Temuka Rugby Club
Te Puhi Rudolph Fly-half (1994-11-28) 28 November 1994 (age 29) 1   Muriwhenua Rugby Club
Reece Joyce Fly-half (1992-03-29) 29 March 1992 (age 31)   Bombay Rugby Club
Leon Ellia-Niukore Centre (1997-11-28) 28 November 1997 (age 26) 1   Souths Rugby CLub
Junior Taia Centre (2000-10-16) 16 October 2000 (age 23) 1   Shirley Rugby Club
Gideon Kautai Centre (2000-12-01) 1 December 2000 (age 23) 1   Hastings Rugby Sports
Tevita Niusama Wing (2001-08-08) 8 August 2001 (age 22) 1   Avatiu Nikao Eels
Materua Tupou Wing (1990-11-28) 28 November 1990 (age 33) 1   Pirates Old Boys
Matamanea Matapakia Fullback (1994-01-13) 13 January 1994 (age 30) 3   Geraldine Rugby Club
Mataroa Maui Fullback (1993-04-15) 15 April 1993 (age 30)   Excelsior Rugby Club

Notable players edit

See also edit

References edit

  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.

External links edit

  • Official website (in English)
  • Cook Islands at the IRB Official Site
  • Cook Islands Rugby Union on Facebook