Rugby League: Cook Islands Secure World Cup Spot
The Cook Islands have earned their place in the IRL Rugby League World Cup 2026 after a dominant 58–6 victory over South Africa in the RLWC26 qualifying match held on Sunday at CommBank Stadium in Sydney.
The team, known as the Aitu, now joins Australia, England, Fiji, France, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga, and Wales among the ten men’s teams competing in the World Cup at the end of next season. With this win, the Cook Islands became the fourteenth nation to qualify for the tournament after a strong second-half performance.
“Going to the World Cup, it's massive for us,” said KL Iro, who plays for the Cronulla Sharks in the National Rugby League competition. “We spoke about it over the last four weeks. Really stoked to get this reward. I thought we were punishing ourselves, like the last couple of games in Fiji and Papua New Guinea.”
Teammate Brendan Piakura credited the team’s preparation and bonding time in Rarotonga after their Pacific Bowl campaign as key to their success.
“I'm excited, exciting times,” he said.
Author’s Summary
The Cook Islands secured World Cup qualification with a commanding win over South Africa, showcasing their cohesion and determination ahead of RLWC26.