Cook Islands national rugby union team
Encyclopedia
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.
of Rarontongan boys including the late Sir Albert Henry
played the 1924 All Blacks
Invincibles on their way to the United Kingdom and drew 0-0 although this could never be considered an official international.
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.
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
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.
History
A scratch teamScratch team
A scratch team is a team, usually in sport, brought together on a temporary basis, composed of players who normally play for different sides. A game played between two scratch teams may be called a scratch match....
of Rarontongan boys including the late Sir Albert Henry
Albert Henry
Albert Royle Henry was the first Premier of the Cook Islands. He was forced to resign from that post in a 1978 voting scandal for which he was later convicted of fraud...
played the 1924 All Blacks
All Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
Invincibles on their way to the United Kingdom and drew 0-0 although this could never be considered an official international.
The Cook Islands played their first official international on September 1, 1971 against Western Samoa
Samoa national rugby union team
The Manu Samoa is the men's representative side of the Samoa Rugby Union in both the 15's and the 7's for international competitions. The Samoa Rugby Union is owned by the affiliated rugby unions of Samoa. In Samoa, Manu Samoa is in honour of a famous Samoan warrior. From 1924 to 1997 Samoa was...
, losing 24 points to 18. The Cook Islands went on to win against Wallis and Futuna
Wallis and Futuna national rugby union team
The Wallis and Futuna national rugby union team represents Wallis and Futuna in rugby union. They have not yet qualified for the rugby world cup. Their first international was against Papua New Guinea, who beat them 54-5 in 1966. Wallis and Futuna recorded their first, and as yet only, victory...
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
Italy national rugby union team
The Italy national rugby union team represent the nation of Italy in the sport of rugby union. The team is also known as the Azzurri . Italy have been playing international rugby since the late 1920s, and since 2000 compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland,...
; 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
Papua New Guinea national rugby union team
The Papua New Guinea national rugby union team represent Papua New Guinea in the sport of rugby union. Nicknamed the Pukpuks, , they played their first international in 1966, defeating Vanuatu 47-3. Papua New Guinea have not so far qualified for a Rugby World Cup...
. Since then, they play regularly against them and fellow Pacific sides Niue
Niue national rugby union team
The Niue Island national rugby union team is the national team of the third tier rugby union playing nation of Niue Island. They first started playing in 1983 and have played just 10 games to date, four against the Cook Islands and three against Tahiti. Other games have been played against Fiji,...
and Tahiti
Tahiti national rugby union team
The Tahiti national rugby union team is a third tier rugby union team, representing the island of Tahiti in French Polynesia, an overseas collectivity of France. They first played in 1971 and have played just 12 games to date, four against the Cook Islands and three against Niue. Other games have...
.
While Niue and the Cook Islands
Cook Islands Rugby Union
The Cook Islands Rugby Union is the governing body for rugby union in the Cook Islands. It was founded in 1989 and became affiliated to the International Rugby Board in 1995.The Cook Islands Rugby Union are also members of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance....
are not members of the Pacific Tri-Nations
Pacific Tri-Nations
The Pacific Tri-Nations is the traditional rugby union series between Tonga, Fiji and Samoa. It was established in 1982 with the Samoan team, then known as Western Samoa, winning the tournament...
competition, they can supply players for the Pacific Islanders'
Pacific Islanders rugby union team
The Pacific Islanders rugby union team is an international rugby union team, started in 2004, that represents Fiji, Samoa and Tonga. While Niue and the Cook Islands are not members of the Pacific Tri-Nations competition, they did supply players to the squad for the Pacific Islanders' tour in 2004...
. The first and still sole player from Cook Islands to have represented the Pacific Islanders was Tu Tamarua
Tu Tamarua
Tu Tamarua is a former Cook Islands rugby union flanker.-Career:Tamarua played for Queensland Reds, in Australia, from 1997 to 1999. He later played for NEC Harlequins, in England, for 2001/02 but missed a portion of the season due to injury. He then played for Swansea, in Wales, for 2002/03,...
, 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
Tonga national rugby union team
The Tonga national rugby union team is nicknamed Ikale Tahi . Like their Polynesian neighbours, the Tongans start their matches with a war dance – the Kailao . They are members of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance along with Fiji and Samoa...
for a berth at the 2007 Rugby World Cup
2007 Rugby World Cup
The 2007 Rugby World Cup was the sixth Rugby World Cup, a quadrennial international rugby union competition inaugurated in 1987. Twenty nations competed for the Webb Ellis Cup in the tournament, which was hosted by France from 7 September to 20 October. France won the hosting rights in 2003,...
, but suffered heavy losses by 77-10 at home and 90-0 away, in 2006, being eliminated.
The Cook Islands entered recently Oceania Cup
FORU Oceania Cup
The FORU Oceania Cup, where "FORU" stands for "Federation of Oceania Rugby Unions", is an international rugby union competition between nine countries and territories of Oceania: American Samoa, the Cook Islands, Niue, Tahiti, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Wallis and...
, but were surprisingly eliminated by Niue who beat them 18-7 at Rarotonga.
World Cup record
- 1987 - Not invited
- 1991 - 1995 - Did not enter
- 1999 - 2011 - Did not qualify
Notable players
- Lynnsay Harris
- Tommy HayesTommy HayesTommy Hayes is a Cook Island rugby union player. He plays as a fly-half.Cook Islands international, joined Moseley RFC for the second half of the 2006/07 season after spending seasons with Bristol, Worcester Warriors, and six seasons with Glasgow, and has also...
- Albert HenryAlbert HenryAlbert Royle Henry was the first Premier of the Cook Islands. He was forced to resign from that post in a 1978 voting scandal for which he was later convicted of fraud...
- Koiatu KoiatuKoiatu KoiatuKoiatu Koiatu is a Cook Islands rugby union footballer. He plays as a fullback and as wing.-Career:Koiatu currently plays for Bombay and for Counties Manukau, in New Zealand. He is an international player for Cook Islands, both at XV and Sevens. He played at the IRB Sevens World Series, in 2006...
- Paul Koteka
- Miah Melsom
- Tony Petero
- Dave Rennie
- Tu TamaruaTu TamaruaTu Tamarua is a former Cook Islands rugby union flanker.-Career:Tamarua played for Queensland Reds, in Australia, from 1997 to 1999. He later played for NEC Harlequins, in England, for 2001/02 but missed a portion of the season due to injury. He then played for Swansea, in Wales, for 2002/03,...
- Bryan WilliamsBryan WilliamsBryan Williams, MBE is a former New Zealand rugby union footballer and coach of the Samoan national rugby team....
- Stan WrightStan WrightStan Wright born 29 September 1978 is a Cook Island international rugby union player and his current club is Stade Francais in France....
See also
- Rugby union in the Cook IslandsRugby union in the Cook IslandsRugby union in the Cook Islands is a popular sport. It is a tier three rugby playing nation. They began playing international rugby in 1971 and have yet to make the Rugby World Cup. They are currently rated 55th, with 2,258 registered players and 21 clubs....
- Cook Islands national rugby union team (sevens)Cook Islands national rugby union team (sevens)The Cook Islands national rugby union sevens is a minor national sevens side.-Rugby Sevens at the 2006 Commonwealth Games:At the 2006 Commonwealth Games, the Cook Islands' team was in Group C of the Sevens tournament...
External links
- Cook Islands Rugby Union - Official Site
- Cook Islands at the IRB Official Site