The Cook Islands have a long way to go before joining their Pacific island brothers Fiji, Samoa and Tonga in top tier rugby competition. But a 54-15 win over Jamaica in their final game of the IRB World Junior World Trophy in Chile will give them some heart.
The Cook Islands have a long way to go before joining their Pacific island brothers Fiji, Samoa and Tonga in top tier rugby competition. But they gain some heart from their 54-15 win over Jamaica in their final game of the IRB Junior World Trophy in Chile over ANZAC weekend.
The win secured them seventh place in the eight team competition, but more importantly it was their first win after three straight losses.
It was a learning experience for the Cooks, the management expressing their disappointment at falling below their expectations of a higher placed finish. But the standard required was now known and would better prepare them next year.
Cooks’ triple try-scorer George Pamatatau said he was happy with his own game against Jamaica, adding that “the tournament was really good for all of us. We would have loved to finish in a higher position but we can now go home happy.”
“A highlight of our trip was the way the team got together and it is something that we’ll always remember.”
The Inaugural IRB Junior World Trophy was won by Uruguay who beat hosts Chile 20-8 in the final, earning them qualification to the inaugural IRB Junior World Championship in June 2008. The Tournament, which will bring together the world’s best Under 20 teams, will take place between 6 -22 June.
New Zealand, champions of the final IRB Under 19 World Championship in Belfast in April this year, are top seeds in Pool A based in Cardiff and will face Argentina, Ireland and Tonga. South Africa, runners-up in Belfast, top Pool B in Wrexham and play USA, Samoa and Scotland. Australia are top seeds in Pool C based in Newport and take on England, Canada and Fiji. Wales, who reached the semi-finals of last season’s Belfast tournament, top Pool D and will be based in Swansea, playing their matches at the Liberty Stadium. They will play France, Italy and Japan.
The IRB Junior World Championship is a key element of the IRB’s restructured Age Grade strategy and dovetails with the IRB Junior World Trophy, to provide a dedicated Age Grade international pathway for the IRB’s Member Unions.
Cook Islands – IRB Junior World Trophy Results
Chile 33-10 Cook Islands
Romania 46-7 Cook Islands
Namibia 25-14 Cook Islands
7th place playoff - Cook Islands 54-15 Jamaica
Final - Chile 8-20 Uruguay
