The Cook Islands national rugby league team has been participating in international rugby league football competition since 1986. The team is controlled by the governing body for rugby league in Cook Islands, Cook Islands Rugby League Association (CIRLA), which is currently a member of the Asia-Pacific Rugby League Confederation (APRLC). They are currently ranked 24th in the RLIF World Rankings.
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History
1990s
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.
2000s
The Cook Islands successfully toured New Zealand in 2005 with a three test series against the New Zealand M?ori 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.
2010s
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.
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Players
Current squad
The following players have been selected for the Cook Islands National team to play Papua New Guinea in the 2017 Pacific Test.
COOK ISLANDS: Alex Glenn (Brisbane Broncos), Makahesi Makatoa (Canberra Raiders), Reubenn Rennie (Mounties), Isaac John (Mounties), Geoff Daniela (St Marys), Sam Mataora (Newcastle Knights), Marata Niukore (Parramatta Eels), Moses Noovao-McGreal (Sunshine Coast), Reuben Porter (Sydney Roosters), Kobe Tararo (Titans), Jonathon Ford (Toulouse Olympique), David Munro (Townsville Blackhawks), Carne Doyle-Manga (Tweed Heads), Ezra Howe Jnr (Tweed Heads), Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (Warriors), Uiti Baker (West Newcastle), Esan Marsters (Wests Tigers), Aaron Teroi (Newcastle Thunder, UK)
- Broncos second-rower Alex Glenn is the big name in the Cook Islands squad, with Warriors debutant Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and Knights prop Sam Mataora also included
Tournament history
Rugby League World Cup
Other competitions
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)
Results and fixtures
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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