Cook Islands national rugby union team

Not to be confused with Cook Islands national rugby league team.

Cook Islands

Union| Cook Islands Rugby Union
Head coach| Nathan Robinson
Captain| Tupou Sopoaga

First colours

World Rugby ranking
Current| 53 (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
| 1971 Papeete |
| 1987 Noumea |
Pacific Mini Games
| 1985 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

[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 24) |  |  Martinborough Rugby Club
Ezekiel Sopoaga | Prop |  (2000-06-29) 29 June 2000 (age 25) | 1  |  Petone
Alex Matapo | Prop |  (1982-05-26)26 May 1982 (aged 37)  |  |  Ponsonby
Antonio Ripata | Prop |  (1996-08-28) 28 August 1996 (age 28) | 1  |  Auckland Rugby Football Club
Tuakana Paitai | Prop |  (1998-11-28) 28 November 1998 (age 26) | 2  |  Morrinsville
Toru Katuke | Prop |  (1999-11-27) 27 November 1999 (age 25) |  |  Avatiu Nikao Eels
Tahquinn Hansen | Lock |  (1995-10-19) 19 October 1995 (age 29) | 1  |  Grammar Tech
James Kora | Lock |  (1994-04-18) 18 April 1994 (age 31) | 4  |  Kerikeri Rugby Club
Oneal Rongo | Lock |  (2000-11-28) 28 November 2000 (age 24) | 4  |  Kerikeri Rugby Club
Josh Caffrey | Flanker |  (2000-12-20) 20 December 2000 (age 24) |  |  Avatiu Nikao Eels
Jardine Pumati Chung-Ching | Flanker |  (1996-10-28) 28 October 1996 (age 28) | 1  |  Hastings Rugby Sports
Francis Smith | Flanker |  (1985-05-05) 5 May 1985 (age 40) |  |  Arorangi Bears
Tupou Sopoaga (c) | Flanker |  (1992-06-05) 5 June 1992 (age 33) | 1  |  Petone
Robert Heather | Flanker |  (1992-05-25) 25 May 1992 (age 33) | 3  |  Arorangi Bears
Leroy Henry-Jack | Number 8 |  (1993-04-04) 4 April 1993 (age 32) | 1  |  Pakuranga United
Toka Sopoaga | Scrum-half |  (1994-08-16) 16 August 1994 (age 30) | 1  |  Harbour Rugby Club Otago
Allan Toki | Scrum-half |  (1994-08-26) 26 August 1994 (age 30) |  |  Temuka Rugby Club
Te Puhi Rudolph | Fly-half |  (1994-11-28) 28 November 1994 (age 30) | 1  |  Muriwhenua Rugby Club
Reece Joyce | Fly-half |  (1992-03-29) 29 March 1992 (age 33) |  |  Bombay Rugby Club
Leon Ellia-Niukore | Centre |  (1997-11-28) 28 November 1997 (age 27) | 1  |  Souths Rugby CLub
Junior Taia | Centre |  (2000-10-16) 16 October 2000 (age 24) | 1  |  Shirley Rugby Club
Gideon Kautai | Centre |  (2000-12-01) 1 December 2000 (age 24) | 1  |  Hastings Rugby Sports
Tevita Niusama | Wing |  (2001-08-08) 8 August 2001 (age 24) | 1  |  Avatiu Nikao Eels
Materua Tupou | Wing |  (1990-11-28) 28 November 1990 (age 34) | 1  |  Pirates Old Boys
Matamanea Matapakia | Fullback |  (1994-01-13) 13 January 1994 (age 31) | 3  |  Geraldine Rugby Club
Mataroa Maui | Fullback |  (1993-04-15) 15 April 1993 (age 32) |  |  Excelsior Rugby Club

## Notable players

[edit]

* Tommy Hayes
* Albert Henry
* Koiatu Koiatu
* Paul Koteka
* Dave Rennie
* Tu Tamarua
* Stan Wright
* Mike Beckham
* Daniel Devereaux

## See also

[edit]

* Rugby union in the Cook Islands
* Cook Islands national rugby sevens team

## 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

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