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)
Medal record
Pacific Games
Silver medal – second place1971 Papeete
Silver medal – second place1987 Noumea
Pacific Mini Games
Gold medal – first place1985 Rarotonga

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.

History

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

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
 Fiji20200%20143161–148
 Hong Kong20200%2018377–74
 Italy1100100%1980156+9
 New Caledonia2200100%20038213+69
 Māori All Blacks10100%19921729–12
 Niue752071.43%200919375+118
 Papua New Guinea743057.14%2013163153+10
 Samoa30300%31102–71
 Solomon Islands1100100%20133912+27
 Tahiti972077.78%2017419128+291
 Tonga40400%202132289–257
 Wallis and Futuna1100100%19712918+11
Total402119052.5%–10361063-27

World Cup record

Year Round Position Played Won Drew Lost Pts For Against
AustraliaNew Zealand 1987 Not invited
United KingdomRepublic of IrelandFrance 1991
– South Africa 1995		 did not enter
Wales 1999
– France 2023		 did not qualify
Total––––––––

Current squad

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

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

Notable players

See also

References

  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.
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