# Cook Islands national rugby union team

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.
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. Cook Islands played and lost to Fiji in 2014 for the last spot (Oceania 1) at the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

## 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.
| 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

| Year | Round | Position | Played | Won | Drew | Lost | Pts For | Against |
| 1987 | Not invited | Not invited | Not invited | Not invited | Not invited | Not invited | Not invited | Not invited |
| 1991 – 1995 | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter |
| 1999 – 2023 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| Total | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |

## Current squad

Cook Islands squad for the 2023 Rugby World Cup Oceania qualifiers.
* 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 24) | 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 25) | 2 | Morrinsville |
| Toru Katuke | Prop | (1999-11-27) 27 November 1999 (age 24) | | 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 30) | 4 | Kerikeri Rugby Club |
| Oneal Rongo | Lock | (2000-11-28) 28 November 2000 (age 23) | 4 | Kerikeri Rugby Club |
| Josh Caffrey | Flanker | (2000-12-20) 20 December 2000 (age 23) | | 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 39) | | Arorangi Bears |
| Tupou Sopoaga (c) | Flanker | (1992-06-05) 5 June 1992 (age 32) | 1 | Petone |
| Robert Heather | Flanker | (1992-05-25) 25 May 1992 (age 32) | 3 | Arorangi Bears |
| Leroy Henry-Jack | Number 8 | (1993-04-04) 4 April 1993 (age 31) | 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 29) | 1 | Muriwhenua Rugby Club |
| Reece Joyce | Fly-half | (1992-03-29) 29 March 1992 (age 32) | | Bombay Rugby Club |
| Leon Ellia-Niukore | Centre | (1997-11-28) 28 November 1997 (age 26) | 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 23) | 1 | Hastings Rugby Sports |
| Tevita Niusama | Wing | (2001-08-08) 8 August 2001 (age 23) | 1 | Avatiu Nikao Eels |
| Materua Tupou | Wing | (1990-11-28) 28 November 1990 (age 33) | 1 | Pirates Old Boys |
| Matamanea Matapakia | Fullback | (1994-01-13) 13 January 1994 (age 30) | 3 | Geraldine Rugby Club |
| Mataroa Maui | Fullback | (1993-04-15) 15 April 1993 (age 31) | | Excelsior Rugby Club |

## Notable players

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