Cook Islands Secure Spot in 2026 IRL Rugby League World Cup
Cook Islands qualified for the IRL Rugby League World Cup 2026 after a decisive 58-6 victory over South Africa in the RLWC26 qualifying match held at CommBank Stadium in Sydney.
The Cook Islands join nine other men's teams—Australia, England, Fiji, France, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga, and Wales—in the tournament scheduled for the end of next season.
They became the 14th nation to secure a place in RLWC26, with a strong second-half performance sealing their victory.
Player Reactions
“Going to the World Cup, it's massive for us,” said KL Iro of the Cronulla Sharks. “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 the team's preparations: “I'm excited, exciting times. The time together in Rarotonga after our Pacific Bowl campaign paid dividends in the end.”
Team Snapshot
- Victory over South Africa: 58-6
- Qualifying match date: Sunday
- Venue: CommBank Stadium, Sydney
- Cook Islands become 14th nation to qualify for RLWC26
- Joining nine other qualified men's teams
Author's Summary: The Cook Islands emphatically secured their place in the 2026 Rugby League World Cup, highlighting strong team effort and promising excitement ahead.