Cook Island Rugby League Team Connects with Culture Ahead of World Cup Qualifiers
Queensland Origin star Val Holmes joined the Cook Islands squad on a trip to Rarotonga, where players reconnected with their cultural roots in preparation for the upcoming World Cup qualifier against South Africa.
According to NRL senior reporter Brad Walter, Holmes is recovering from a shoulder injury that ended his NRL season with the Dragons. Despite the setback, he has pledged his commitment to represent the Cook Islands if they secure the final spot for RLWC26 at CommBank Stadium.
“Holmes, whose mother Lucy was born in the Cook Islands, trained alongside his future international teammates as he supported Ben Hunt and Alex Glenn in preparing the Aitu for their most crucial game in six years.”
The qualifier’s winner will join the Kangaroos, Kiwis, England, Samoa, Tonga, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Lebanon, and France at the 2026 Rugby League World Cup in Australia and Papua New Guinea.
The Aitu will also gain strength from the inclusion of Warriors forward Marata Niukore and Rabbitohs prop Davvy Moale, who missed the Pacific Championships campaign in Port Moresby before the team departed for their Rarotonga camp.
Author’s Summary
The Cook Islands rugby league squad reconnected with cultural traditions in Rarotonga as Val Holmes leads their preparation for a vital World Cup qualifier against South Africa.