The Cook Islands
The Cook Islands

United States Rugby League

By Richard Cowley, Updated: 30/10/13

Teams: Cook Islands v United States

Venue: The Memorial Stadium, Bristol, England. Capacity 12,100

Date: Wednesday 30th October 2013

Kick-off time: 8pm (Local Time)

Sydney (Australia – New South Wales) Thursday, 31 October 2013 at 7:00:00 AM

Brisbane (Australia – Queensland) Thursday, 31 October 2013 at 6:00:00 AM

Auckland (New Zealand) Thursday, 31 October 2013 at 9:00:00 AM

New York (U.S.A. – New York) Wednesday, 30 October 2013 at 4:00:00 PM

Rarotonga (Cook Islands) Wednesday, 30 October 2013 at 10:00:00 AM

2013 RLWC Ticket information: http://www.rlwc2013.com/tickets

2013 RLWC TV viewing information: Channel Seven will broadcast all RLWC2013 matches live in Australia on the 7mate channel. In the UK the BBC will show all England games along with the RLWC Final while Premier Sports will broadcast all other RLWC games.

Overview: Being the first time the US have participated in a RLWC everyone will be writing them off in this match. The lads from the US didn’t travel halfway around the world just to make up the numbers. They will be out to prove they deserve to be in the World Cup and of course looking to defy the odds and come up with their first win.

The USA upset France in Toulouse in a world cup warm-up match 22 – 18. The Tomahawks will be looking to do the same to the Cook Islands. 

Cook Islands might be a bunch of tiny Islands in the Pacific but the national side is known to punch above its weight. In the last Pacific Cup the Cook islands put Tonga and Samoa to the sword and fell short in the final against PNG. The Cooks will be looking to take some scalps in their quest to top their pool.

The Cook Islands were outplayed by World Cup Champions New Zealand 50 – 0 in a World Cup warm-up match over the weekend. The USA are not New Zealand but still the Cook Islands are going to have their hands full in a match that could make or break their world cup campaign.

For more information on the 2013 RLWC click here

To talk to other fans about the 2013 RLWC click here

2013 RLWC Cook Islands v United States teams (Final 17 for each team will be updated once teams are announced)

Cook Islands 2013 RLWC Squad: 

Tinirau Arona (Syndey Roosters)

Sam Brunton (Mounties Bundy)

Daniel Fepuleai (North Sydney Bears)

Jonathon Ford (Toulouse Olympique XIII)

Anthony Gelling (Wigan Warriors)

Isaac John (Penrith Panthers)

Drury Low (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs)

Keith Lulia (Bradford Bulls)

Lulia Lulia (Shell Harbour)

Sam Mataora (Canberra Raiders)

Joseph Matapuku (North Sydney Bears)

Dylan Napa (Sydney Roosters)

Dominique Peyroux (New Zealand Warriors)

Jordan Rapana (Canberra Raiders)

Tupou Sopoaga (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks)

Zeb Taia (Catalan Dragons)

Brad Takairangi (Gold Coast Titans)

Adam Tangata (Mounties Bundy)

Zane Tetavano (Newcastle Knights)

Head coach: David Fairleigh

United States 2013 RLWC Squad: 

1. Kristian Freed

2. Bureta Faraimo

3. Michael Garvey

4. Loto Tagaloa

5. Matt Petersen

6. Joseph Paulo (C)

7. Craig Priestly

8. Junior Paulo

9. Joel Luani

10. Eddy Pettybourne

11. Clint Newton

12. Matt Shipway

13. Daniel Howard

14. Tui Samoa

15. Mark Offerdahl

16. Stephen Howard

17. Les Soloai

18. David Marando

19. Judah Lavulo

Head coach: Terry Matterson