Cook Islands national rugby union team

The Cook Islands is a third tier rugby union playing nation. They began playing international rugby in the early 1971. Thus far, the Cook Islands have not made an appearance at any of the World Cups.

Cook Islands
UnionCook Islands Rugby Union
Head coachStan Wright
CaptainSam Anderson-Heather
First colours
World Rugby ranking
Current52 (as of 23 November 2020)
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

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, Soloman 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 Papau New Guinea national XV at test level up until 20 April 2020.[4]

Team Mat Won Lost Draw Win% Last played For Aga Diff
 Fiji2020%20143161–148
 Hong Kong2020%2018377–74
 Italy1100100%1980156+9
 New Caledonia2200100%20038213+69
 Māori All Blacks1010100%19921729–12
 Niue752071.43%200919375+118
 Papua New Guinea743057.14%2013163153+10
 Samoa3030%31102–71
 Solomon Islands1100100%20133912+27
 Tahiti972077.78%2017419128+291
 Tonga3030%200622235–212
 Wallis and Futuna1100100%19712918+11
Total392118053.85%10261009+17

World Cup record

Year Round Position Played Won Drew Lost Pts For Against
1987 Not invited
1991
1995
Did not enter
1999
2019
Did not qualify
Total

Current squad

Cook Islands squad for the 2019 Rugby World Cup Oceania qualifiers.[5]

Player Position Date of birth (age) Caps Club/province
Sam Anderson-Heather Hooker (1988-02-15)15 February 1988 (aged 31) Otago
Matt Mullany Hooker Johnsonville
Alex Casey Prop (1991-01-03)3 January 1991 (aged 28) Queensland Country
AJ Campbell Prop (1990-08-09)9 August 1990 (aged 29) North Brisbane
Alex Matapo Prop (1982-05-26)26 May 1982 (aged 37) Ponsonby
Tuakana Paitai Prop Morrinsville
James Pakoti Prop Wairarapa Bush
Oneal Rongo Lock Northland
Shahn Eru Lock (1989-09-20)20 September 1989 (aged 30) Perpignan
Tai Marsters Lock Ardmore Marist
Tyrone Viiga Loose forward (1992-06-09)9 June 1992 (aged 27) AS Béziers
Eruu Wano Loose forward (1994-06-27)27 June 1994 (aged 25) Ardmore Marist
Tainui Ford Loose forward (1990-08-28)28 August 1990 (aged 29) Queensland Country
Teara Henderson Scrum-half Oriental Rongotai
Corry Tearoa Scrum-half Wanneroo Districts
Walter Koteka Fly-half Wests Scarborough
Will Raea Fly-half Manurewa
Reece Joyce Fly-half Bombay
Josh Gordon Centre Southern
Gene Te Amo Centre Manurewa
Josh Tinomana Centre Wests Scarborough
Brynn Uriarau Wing Taradale
Oisin Clarken Wing Moorabbin
Justin Masters Fullback Melbourne Rising
Greg Mullany Fullback OBU

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. "RWC hopes still have life". Cook Islands News. 14 June 2018.
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