Fiji vs Cook Islands in Rugby League World Cup pool match
Fiji and Cook Islands, ranked 7th and 8th, meet in Pool A World Cup rugby on Sunday.
Fiji and Cook Islands meet in a vital Pool A encounter at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle on Sunday at 4:05pm AEDT in the 2026 Rugby League World Cup. The two Pacific Island teams are ranked seventh and eighth in the world and desperate to win as Australia and New Zealand are expected to qualify from the pool.
Fiji have a strong tournament record, reaching three semi-finals in a row between 2008 and 2017. Cook Islands haven't beaten Fiji for 17 years but bring experience in coach Karmichael Hunt, a cross-code legend, and captain KL Iro, one of the world's most respected talents.
Fiji's captain Apisai Koroisau is a 33-year-old hooker who won three NRL premierships with the Rabbitohs and Panthers. The match is free on Seven Network and 7plus in Australia.
- 17 years since last beat Fiji
- Cook Islands drought
- Three in a row from 2008 to 2017
- Fiji semi-finals streak
- Three with Rabbitohs and Panthers
- Koroisau premierships
- 33 years old
- Koroisau age
Why it mattersTwo Pacific Island teams playing for survival in a World Cup pool, with one chasing a rare victory drought-breaker.
AustraliaThe game is played in Newcastle and broadcast free on Australian television; a win would boost Pacific rugby league's World Cup hopes.
Corroborated byzerotackle.com
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