Rugby union in the Cook Islands
Encyclopedia
Rugby 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.
was founded in 1948, and affiliated to the IRFB in 1995. The Cook Islands Rugby Union are also members of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance
.
, New Zealand
, the UK and Japan
, have kept the game going. However, Cook Island rugby has mostly taken the form of an informal folk sport until recently. Also, the Cook Islands have suffered another problem common to many other surrounding nations such as Western Samoa; with potential players opting to play for bigger nations. Both brothers Graeme
and Steve Bachop were eligible to play for the Cook Islands but chose to play for their country of birth New Zealand
. The Australian rugby league
captain, Mal Meninga
also started off in Cook Island rugby union. In the 1990s, Anthony Turua played a major part in formalising the situation, and getting the national side up to standard. Although they did not manage to get into the Rugby World Cup
, the Cook Islands have done well in what is arguably the toughest rugby region, and managed to beat Papua New Guinea
. As with many of the of Pacific Nations with a lot of talent, and not a lot of population, the Cook Islands have tended to do best at rugby sevens
.
began playing international rugby union in 1971. Thus far, the Cook Islands have not made an appearance at any of the World Cups. They are traditionally considered as the sixth best team from Oceania, even they still are very far from the level of Fiji
, Samoa
and Tonga
. They can also supply players for the Pacific Islanders
team.
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...
in the Cook Islands
Cook Islands
The Cook Islands is a self-governing parliamentary democracy in the South Pacific Ocean in free association with New Zealand...
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
Rugby World Cup
The Rugby World Cup is an international rugby union competition organised by the International Rugby Board and held every four years since 1987....
. They are currently rated 55th, with 2,258 registered players and 21 clubs.
Governing body
The Cook Islands Rugby UnionCook 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....
was founded in 1948, and affiliated to the IRFB in 1995. The Cook Islands Rugby Union are also members of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance
Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance
The Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance was set up in 2002 as a basis of co-operation between the Fiji, Samoa and Tonga Rugby Unions. Niue and the Cook Islands are also members of the Alliance, and while not members of the Pacific Tri-Nations competition, they can and do supply members to the Pacific...
.
History
As with many Pacific Island nations, rugby has been the main sport since the early 20th century. Visiting ships from AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, the UK and Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, have kept the game going. However, Cook Island rugby has mostly taken the form of an informal folk sport until recently. Also, the Cook Islands have suffered another problem common to many other surrounding nations such as Western Samoa; with potential players opting to play for bigger nations. Both brothers Graeme
Graeme Bachop
Graeme Bachop is a former rugby player from New Zealand of Samoan,Tahitian and Cook Islands Heritage.He played for the Linwood Rugby club for ten years followed by four years at Christchurch High School Old Boys. His move to HSOB allowed him to develop a combination with first five-eighths Andrew...
and Steve Bachop were eligible to play for the Cook Islands but chose to play for their country of birth New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. The Australian rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
captain, Mal Meninga
Mal Meninga
Malcolm Norman Meninga AM is an Australian former rugby league test captain and current coach of Queensland's State of Origin team. As a player he was a legendary goal-kicking centre, counted amongst the finest footballers of the 20th century...
also started off in Cook Island rugby union. In the 1990s, Anthony Turua played a major part in formalising the situation, and getting the national side up to standard. Although they did not manage to get into the Rugby World Cup
Rugby World Cup
The Rugby World Cup is an international rugby union competition organised by the International Rugby Board and held every four years since 1987....
, the Cook Islands have done well in what is arguably the toughest rugby region, and managed to beat 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...
. As with many of the of Pacific Nations with a lot of talent, and not a lot of population, the Cook Islands have tended to do best at rugby sevens
Rugby sevens
Rugby sevens, also known as seven-a-side or VIIs, is a variant of rugby union in which teams are made up of seven players, instead of the usual 15, with shorter matches. Rugby sevens is administered by the International Rugby Board , the body responsible for rugby union worldwide...
.
National team
The Cook Islands national rugby union teamCook 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.-History:...
began playing international rugby union in 1971. Thus far, the Cook Islands have not made an appearance at any of the World Cups. They are traditionally considered as the sixth best team from Oceania, even they still are very far from the level of Fiji
Fiji national rugby union team
The Fiji national rugby union team is a member of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance formerly along with Samoa and Tonga. In 2009, Samoa announced their departure from the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance, leaving just Fiji and Tonga. Fiji are ranked sixteenth in the world by the IRB as of 26...
, 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...
and 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...
. They can also 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...
team.
See also
- Cook Islands national rugby union teamCook Islands national rugby union teamThe 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.-History:...
- 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...
- Sport in the Cook IslandsSport in the Cook IslandsRugby union is the most popular sport in the Cook Islands with association football and rugby league also popular. In September 2009, the country hosted the 2009 Pacific Mini Games.-Rugby union:The Cook Islands is a tier three rugby union playing nation...