Cook Islands Qualify for Rugby League World Cup 2026
Cook Islands secured their place in the IRL Rugby League World Cup 2026 by defeating South Africa 58-6 in the qualifying match held at CommBank Stadium, Sydney. This victory marks the Cook Islands as the 14th nation to qualify for RLWC26.
Match Highlights and Qualification
The Cook Islands team dominated the second half of the game, sealing their qualification with a convincing win. They will join Australia, England, Fiji, France, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga, and Wales as the 10 men's teams competing in the World Cup next season.
Players' Reactions
"Going to the World Cup, it's massive for us," said KL Iro, who plays for the Cronulla Sharks in the NRL. "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 reflected on their preparation: "I'm excited, exciting times. The time together in Rarotonga after our Pacific Bowl campaign ended two weekends ago really paid off."
Background
The Cook Islands rugby league men's team recently competed in the Pacific Championships and have now secured a spot on the world stage for the 2026 tournament.
Summary: The Cook Islands emphatically qualified for the 2026 Rugby League World Cup, showcasing strong team effort and strategic preparation underpinned by recent competitive experiences.
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