Cook Islands Rugby League Next Game: World Cup 2026 Fixtures
When do the Cook Islands play next at the Rugby League World Cup 2026, and what time is it on in Rarotonga?
The Aitu are a day behind Australia, so fans back home watch every match on the evening before the date on the ticket.
The Cook Islands’ next game is against Fiji on Sunday 18 October 2026 in Newcastle, kicking off at 4:05pm local time. That’s 7:05pm on Saturday 17 October in the Cook Islands.
After that, the Aitu play New Zealand in Christchurch on 25 October and Australia in Townsville on 31 October.
Below, you’ll find every Cook Islands fixture in local, Sydney and UK time, the TV channels and the team news.
We update this page after every match, so it always shows the Aitu’s next game first.
Quick Answer: Cook Islands Rugby League Next Game
- Next game: Fiji v Cook Islands, Sunday 18 October 2026
- Kick-off: 4:05pm Newcastle (7:05pm Sat 17 Oct Cook Islands, 6:05am Sun UK)
- Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
- Watch: Seven and 7plus (Australia), Sky Sport (NZ), Premier Sports (UK)
- Opponents: Fiji, New Zealand and Australia
- Last updated: 12 October 2026
When Is the Cook Islands’ Next Game?
The Aitu open their Rugby League World Cup 2026 against Fiji on Sunday 18 October in Newcastle.
It’s their first World Cup match since the last tournament in England in 2022.
Fiji are the clear favourites, but the Aitu have a squad full of NRL experience and nothing to lose.
A good result here would give the Cook Islands real belief before two huge games against the Kiwis and Kangaroos.
Cook Islands Rugby League World Cup 2026 Fixtures
The Aitu play all three pool matches in eight days across three different cities.
| Match | Venue | Cook Islands time | Sydney | UK |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fiji v Cook Islands | McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle | Sat 17 Oct, 7:05pm | Sun 18 Oct, 4:05pm | Sun 18 Oct, 6:05am |
| New Zealand v Cook Islands | One New Zealand Stadium, Christchurch | Sat 24 Oct, 7:05pm | Sun 25 Oct, 4:05pm | Sun 25 Oct, 5:05am |
| Australia v Cook Islands | Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville | Fri 30 Oct, 11:05pm | Sat 31 Oct, 8:05pm | Sat 31 Oct, 9:05am |
Remember the date line. Every Aitu match falls on the day before in the Cook Islands.
For every other match in your time zone, see our Rugby League World Cup 2026 kick-off times guide.
What Time Is Fiji vs Cook Islands?
Fiji vs Cook Islands kicks off at 4:05pm Sydney time on Sunday 18 October.
That’s 5:05pm in Fiji, 6:05pm in New Zealand and 6:05am in the UK.
In the Cook Islands, it’s 7:05pm on Saturday 17 October, a perfect evening kick-off for fans in Rarotonga.
Want to know who the Aitu face? See the Bati on our Fiji Rugby League World Cup squad page.
What Channel Is Cook Islands Rugby League On?
Every Cook Islands match is shown live in Australia, New Zealand and the UK.
- Australia: Free on the Seven Network and 7plus
- New Zealand: Sky Sport
- UK and Ireland: Premier Sports (subscription)
In Australia, you can stream every match for free on 7plus with a free account.
Following the Aitu to Australia or New Zealand? A VPN like NordVPN keeps your home streaming account working and protects you on public Wi-Fi. (We may earn a commission.)
For other countries, see our guide to watching the Rugby League World Cup 2026.
Cook Islands Team List v Fiji
The Aitu’s team for the opener was named on Tuesday 13 October, with KL Iro as captain. Here’s the official 17, as published on NRL.com.
| No. | Player | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Esom Ioka | Fullback |
| 2 | Paul Ulberg | Wing |
| 3 | KL Iro | Centre |
| 4 | Reubenn Rennie | Centre |
| 5 | Cameron Brown | Wing |
| 6 | Maui Winitana-Patelesio | Five-eighth |
| 7 | Esan Marsters | Halfback |
| 8 | Davvy Moale | Prop |
| 9 | Mason Teague | Hooker |
| 10 | Makahesi Makatoa | Prop |
| 11 | Delahia Wigmore | Second row |
| 12 | Reuben Porter | Second row |
| 13 | Pride Petterson-Robati | Lock |
| 14 | Rua Ngatikaura | Bench |
| 15 | K-CI Newton-Whare | Bench |
| 16 | Rhys Dakin | Bench |
| 17 | Brad Takairangi | Bench |
Coaches can still make late changes, so the final 17 is confirmed shortly before kick-off.
See Fiji’s team, and every other Round 1 side, on our Rugby League World Cup 2026 team lists page.
Cook Islands Team 2026: The Big Selection Calls
KL Iro captains the side from the centres, with Esan Marsters at halfback.
Esom Ioka starts at fullback, and Davvy Moale and Makahesi Makatoa lead the forwards.
Valentine Holmes and co-captain Marata Niukore are not in the 17.
Brad Takairangi and K-CI Newton-Whare add experience off the bench.
Cook Islands Rugby League World Cup 2026 Squad
Karmichael Hunt named his 23-man squad on 6 October.
Brendan Piakura is the big absence after a run of concussions.
See every player and club on our Cook Islands Aitu squad page.
Check the injury list before each round for late changes.
New Zealand vs Cook Islands: The Only World Cup Match in New Zealand
The Aitu’s second game, against the Kiwis on 25 October, is the only men’s World Cup match played in New Zealand this year.
Expect a huge Pacific crowd at One New Zealand Stadium in Christchurch.
There should be a haka-versus-pe’e moment before kick-off. See our Rugby League World Cup haka guide.
Follow the Kiwis’ side of it on our Kiwis next game page.
Can the Cook Islands Reach the Rugby League World Cup 2026 Semi-Finals?
It’s a big ask. The Aitu are in Pool A with Australia, New Zealand and Fiji.
Only the top two in Pool A reach the semi-finals, so they would need at least one big upset.
Beating Fiji in Newcastle is their best chance of a famous result.
Follow the table on our Rugby League World Cup results page.
Cook Islands Rugby League World Cup 2026 Results
The Aitu haven’t played yet. Their first result comes on Sunday 18 October.
| Match | Result |
|---|---|
| Fiji v Cook Islands | 18 October, to be played |
| New Zealand v Cook Islands | 25 October, to be played |
| Australia v Cook Islands | 31 October, to be played |
We add each score here straight after the final whistle.
The next game at the top of this page also changes after every match.
Cook Islands Rugby League World Cup Tickets
Tickets start from $19 AUD on Ticketmaster, the official seller.
The Christchurch match is sold through Ticketmaster New Zealand.
See our tickets guide for how to buy safely.
Travelling? Grab an Australia eSIM or a New Zealand eSIM from Airalo before you fly.
Cook Islands Schedule Updates
12 October 2026: Page published with the Aitu’s three pool fixtures, kick-off times and team news.
13 October 2026: Cook Islands team for the Fiji match named, with KL Iro as captain.
After full-time on 18 October, we’ll add the score and move the next game to New Zealand vs Cook Islands.
Cook Islands Rugby League Next Game: FAQ
Here are quick answers to the questions fans ask most about the Aitu’s World Cup.
Each answer starts with the key fact, so you can find it fast.
For full details, see the fixture and team sections above.
When do the Cook Islands play next?
The Cook Islands play Fiji on Sunday 18 October 2026 at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle.
Kick-off is 4:05pm local time, which is 7:05pm on Saturday in the Cook Islands.
It’s the Aitu’s first match of the tournament.
Who do the Cook Islands play at the Rugby League World Cup 2026?
Fiji on 18 October, New Zealand on 25 October and Australia on 31 October.
All three are Pool A matches.
The Kiwis game is in Christchurch, and the Kangaroos game is in Townsville.
Is Valentine Holmes playing for the Cook Islands?
Yes. Valentine Holmes is in the Cook Islands’ 23-man squad.
He’s set to make his Aitu debut at the tournament.
He played 21 Tests for Australia before switching.
Who is the Cook Islands rugby league coach?
Karmichael Hunt coaches the Cook Islands Aitu at the Rugby League World Cup 2026.
He named his squad on 6 October.
KL Iro and Marata Niukore are the co-captains.
Conclusion
The Aitu’s World Cup starts against Fiji in Newcastle on 18 October.
Then come New Zealand in Christchurch and Australia in Townsville.
Bookmark this page, because we update the next game, team news and results after every match.
Following their Pool A rivals? See the Kangaroos next game page, and visit rlwc2026.com for official news.
