Cook Islands Clinch Spot in 2026 Rugby League World Cup

The Cook Islands secured their place in the IRL Rugby League World Cup 2026 after a commanding victory over South Africa, winning 58-6 in a qualifying match held on Sunday at CommBank Stadium in Sydney. This win marks a significant achievement for the Aitu, who join a competitive roster of ten men’s teams, including Australia, England, Fiji, France, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga, and Wales for the upcoming World Cup.

With this victory, the Cook Islands become the 14th nation to qualify for the tournament, following a dominant second half that saw them outpace their opponents. KL Iro, a player for the Cronulla Sharks in the National Rugby League, expressed his excitement following the match. “Going to the World Cup, it’s massive for us,” he stated. “Massive for our country. We spoke about it over the last four weeks. Really stoked to get this, this reward.”

Teammate Brendan Piakura highlighted the value of their recent training camp in Rarotonga, which followed their Pacific Bowl campaign. “We spent 10 days in the Cook Islands just recently and it was an awesome camp. It really gave the boys a bit of purpose,” he noted.

The Cook Islands started strong, leading 20-6 at halftime with four tries to their name. The scoring began with Paul Ulberg crossing the line in the eighth minute, followed by Davvy Moale in the 22nd minute. South Africa managed to get on the scoreboard with a try from Luke Pereira De Vlieg, but had two tries disallowed during the first half. The absence of lock Aden Perry, who was sin-binned for a shoulder charge, provided an opportunity for the Aitu to add two more tries through Esan Marsters and Marata Niukore.

The second half started positively for South Africa, but KL Iro quickly changed the momentum with a long-range try in the 51st minute. The Cook Islands continued to build on their lead with additional tries from Brendan Piakura, Cassius Cowley, Marata Niukore, Mason Teague, and Rua Ngatikaura. Both Esan Marsters and Esom Ioka successfully converted three attempts each, contributing to the final score.

Statistically, the Cook Islands dominated the match, holding 53 percent of possession and achieving a 71 percent set completion rate by successfully executing 28 out of 39 sets. They also recorded 16 line breaks, while South Africa failed to register any.

The 2026 Rugby League World Cup is set to take place in Australia and Papua New Guinea, promising to be a showcase of international rugby league talent. For the Cook Islands, this qualification is a moment of pride and excitement, as they prepare to compete on the world stage.