The Cook Islands women's national rugby league team, also known as the Cook Islands Moana represents

Cook Islands The Cook Islands is an island country in Polynesia, part of Oceania in the South Pacific Ocean. It consists of 15 islands whose total land area is approximately . The Cook Islands' Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) covers of ocean. Avarua is its ...

Women's rugby league Women's rugby league is the female-only version of rugby league. The sport has growing more popular in Australia, France, Great Britain, and New Zealand. These countries regularly compete in the Women's Rugby League World Cup which has been i ...

. The Cook Islands have competed in three

Women's Rugby League World Cup The Women's Rugby League World Cup is an international rugby league tournament, contested by the women's national teams of the International Rugby League (IRL). The competition has been held since 2000 and was incorporated into the Festival of ...

tournaments. In

2003 2003 was designated by the United Nations as the International Year of Fresh water, Freshwater. In 2003, a Multi-National Force – Iraq, United States-led coalition 2003 invasion of Iraq, invaded Iraq, starting the Iraq War. Demographic ...

, the Cook Islands played six matches, for two wins (both over Tokelau), a draw (with

Great Britain Great Britain is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean off the north-west coast of continental Europe, consisting of the countries England, Scotland, and Wales. With an area of , it is the largest of the British Isles, the List of European ...

), and three losses. In

2017 2017 was designated as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development by the United Nations General Assembly. Events January * January 1 – Istanbul nightclub shooting: A gunman dressed as Santa Claus opens fire at the ...

the Cook Islands lost their first two matches by large margins, before registering a surprise win over

England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...

in their third and last match. The Cook Islands participated in the 2021 Women's Rugby League World Cup which, after a delay due to the Covid-19 pandemic, was played in November 2022. Again, the Cook Islands lost their first two matches before winning their third and last match, on this occasion beating France women's national rugby league team. The Cook Islands had prequalified for the 2025 Rugby League World Cup. The withdrawal of intended hosts France, in August 2023, prompted a review by the governing body, which resulted in a reduction in the number of teams, from sixteen to eight. The number of pre-qualified teams was also reduced from eight to four, impacting the Cook Islands. Consequently, the Cook Islands will now need to qualify for the next World Cup, which was pushed back to 2026.

History

Cook Islands women's teams participated in the mid 1990s Oceania Cup tournaments in New Zealand. After appearing in the 1996 Oceania Cup, there was a gap in participation by Moana teams for several years until a revival in 2002 ahead of the 2003 World Cup. Invitational games were played against Maori and Niue teams. The squad for 2003 tournament were selected from New Zealand clubs. Cook Islands first World Cup appearance was at the

2003 Women's Rugby League World Cup The 2003 Women's Rugby League World Cup was the second staging of the Women's Rugby League World Cup. The tournament was held in Auckland, New Zealand from 28 September, culminating in the final between New Zealand and New Zealand Maori on 12 ...

. After a loss by a large margin in their opening fixture against

New Zealand New Zealand () is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and List of islands of New Zealand, over 600 smaller islands. It is the List of isla ...

, Cook Islands won their second game against Tokelau. Fresh off byes in the last round of the first phase, and first round of the second phase, the Cook Islands held Great Britain to a 20-all draw. Cook Islands qualified for the 2017 Women's Rugby League World Cup by default after

Fiji Fiji, officially the Republic of Fiji, is an island country in Melanesia, part of Oceania in the South Pacific Ocean. It lies about north-northeast of New Zealand. Fiji consists of an archipelago of more than 330 islands—of which about ...

Samoa Samoa, officially the Independent State of Samoa and known until 1997 as Western Samoa, is an island country in Polynesia, part of Oceania, in the South Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main islands (Savai'i and Upolu), two smaller, inhabited ...

and

Tonga Tonga, officially the Kingdom of Tonga, is an island country in Polynesia, part of Oceania. The country has 171 islands, of which 45 are inhabited. Its total surface area is about , scattered over in the southern Pacific Ocean. accordin ...

withdrew from the Pacific qualifying tournament due to a lack of players. After losses by large margins to

and

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...

, the Cook Islands team had an upset victory over

Head to head records

Note: * Table last updated 26 October 2024. * Share is the portion of "For" points compared to the sum of "For" and "Against" points.

Current squad

The Moana squad for the 2024 Pacific Championships was announced on 9 October 2024.

Results

Nines

Past squads

2017

Squad for the 2017 Women's Rugby League World Cup: * Toka Natua (Tokoroa, NZ) * Te Kura Ngata-Aerengamate (Counties-Manukau, NZ) * Te Amohaere Ngat-Aerengamate (Counties-Manukau, NZ) * Crystal George Tamarua (Auckland, NZ) * Danielle Apaiana (Auckland, NZ) * Stephanie Wilson (Sydney, Australia) * Eliza Wilson (Auckland, NZ) * Josina Singapu (Gold Coast, Australia) * Karol Tanevesi (Sydney, Australia) * Samaria Taia (Sydney, Australia) * Natalee Tagavaitau (Auckland, NZ) * Kaylen Ikitule (Auckland, NZ) * Kiana Takairangi (Sydney, Australia) * Chantelle Inangaro Schofield (Cook Islands) * Beniamina Koiatu (Auckland, NZ) * Inangaro Maraeara (Sydney, Australia) * Manea Poa-Maoate (Wellington, NZ) * Lydia Turua-Quedley (Melbourne, Australia) * Ruahei Demant (Auckland, NZ) * Cecelia Strickland (Perth, Australia) * Urshla Kere (Brisbane, Australia) * Kiritapu Demant (Auckland, NZ) * Katelyn Arona (Christchurch, NZ)

2003

Squad for the

: * Charmaine Angareu (Mangere East) * Deborah Apaina (Ponsonby) * Marry-Anne Aukino (Papakura) * Rangi Aukino (Randwick) * Justine Cook (Ponsonby) * Sarah Cook (Ponsonby) * Debbie Dorman (Ponsonby) * Michelle Driscoll (Richmond) * Tracey Larkin (Ponsonby) * Elizabeth Mani (Mt Wellington) * Caroline Marsters (Mt Wellington) * Kelly Marsters (Te Atatu) * Joyce Otikore-Joseph (Otara) * Nora Pange (Mangere East) * Api Parai (Te Atatu) * Hilda Peters (Papakura) * Karen Thorn (Ponsonby) * Amiria Tikinau (Otahuhu) * Mary Tuarae (Richmond) * Tutai-Stephanie Utanga (Mt Wellington) * Theresa Vaiula (Ponsonby) * Teremoana Vano (Ponsonby) * Teresa Wilson (Hillcrest) * Tupou Wilson (Hillcrest)

References

External links

* {{International Rugby League Women's national rugby league teams Cook Islands national rugby league team