Rugby league: Cook Islands secure World Cup spot

Cook Islands Secure Rugby League World Cup Spot

The Cook Islands have qualified for the IRL Rugby League World Cup 2026 after defeating South Africa 58-6 in the qualifying match held at CommBank Stadium in Sydney on Sunday.

The Cook Islands men's rugby league team joins Australia, England, Fiji, France, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga, and Wales as the ten men's teams set to compete in the World Cup next season.

Second-Half Surge Seals Victory

The Cook Islands, becoming the 14th nation to qualify for RLWC26, secured the win with a strong performance in the second half of the match.

KL Iro, a player for the Cronulla Sharks in the National Rugby League, expressed his excitement: "Going to the World Cup, it's massive for us. We spoke about it over the last four weeks. Really stoked to get this, this reward. I thought we were punishing ourselves, like the last couple games in Fiji and Papua New Guinea."
Brendan Piakura, another team member, highlighted the importance of their time spent together in Rarotonga after the Pacific Bowl campaign: "I'm excited, exciting times."

Cook Islands at Recent Pacific Championships

The team recently competed in the Pacific Championships, further honing their skills ahead of the World Cup.

NRL/CIRL Photo: NRL/CIRL

Author's summary: The Cook Islands' decisive victory over South Africa has earned them a well-deserved place in the 2026 Rugby League World Cup, marking a significant achievement for the team.

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RNZ RNZ — 2025-11-09

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