'Make our nation proud': Cook Islands to face South Africa for RLWC26 berth

Cook Islands will prepare for their 2026 World Cup qualifying play-off against South Africa by playing in the Pacific Championships at the end of the NRL season.

The final two men’s berths for RLWC2026, to be played in Australia and Papua New Guinea, will be decided in Northern and Southern Hemisphere play-off matches later this year.

France will host Jamaica in Albi on October 25, while Cook Islands will meet South Africa in an RLWC2026 qualifier to be hosted by the ARLC alongside the Pacific Championships.

The winners will claim the final two places at the 2026 World Cup, which will also be hosted by the ARLC.

They will join Australia, England, Fiji, Lebanon, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa and Tonga – the quarter-finalists at the last World Cup in England in 2022 as the 10 men's teams at the World Cup.

“Our dream has always been to compete on the greatest stage at the Rugby League World Cup," Cook Islands chair Charles Carlson said.

Though we are a small nation competing at this elite level, vision with passion and determination know no bounds.

"No doubt South Africa will be a formidable opponent but will rise to the challenge and make our people and nation proud”.

Cook Islands are the only non-qualified IRL Full Member for RLWC2026 from the Asia-Pacific region, while South Africa are the only non-qualified IRL Full Member in the Middle East & Africa region.

The Southern Hemisphere play-off will be hosted by the ARLC alongside the Pacific Championships, which Cook Islands are participating in and have the “home” advantage as the highest ranked side.

Cook Islands and South Africa have met only once previously, a 66-6 win to the Cooks in 2019 in Sydney – the RLWC2021 Repechage Match.

"We are looking forward to this critical clash with the Cook Islands," South African Rugby League president Frans Erasmus said.

"This will be a decisive IRL Men's World Cup Qualification match, where every moment counts. The Rhinos will play with passion and typical South African pride.

"We understand that only victory leads to World Cup 2026. Our players, staff, and fans are united behind a single goal: to show the world the true heart of South African Rugby League".

The matches are being played as Northern and Southern Hemisphere RLWC2026 qualifiers as there was no viable bid to host a men’s World Series following a tender process.

France, who beat Wales in the final of the European qualifying tournament after overcoming Ukraine in the semi-final, will host the Northern Hemisphere play-off against Jamaica as the higher ranked nation.

Jamaica are the only IRL Full Member from the Americas region.

"We are delighted to welcome Jamaica to France for the final stages of the IRL Rugby League World Cup Qualifiers in 2026," FFRXIII president Dominique Baloup said. 

"This match is very important for both teams, and home advantage is essential for us. The support of the French public reinforces our team's efforts, as it did during last year's European Qualifiers.

"We are delighted to once again be able to host a varied program of international matches here in France".

France last hosted Jamaica in the only previous meeting between the nations in 2017, which saw the hosts win 34-12 in front of a crowd over 6,500 in Perpignan.

"Rugby League Jamaica director of rugby and head coach Romeo Monteith said the Reggae Warriors were looking forward to the opportunity to qualify for consecutive World Cups.

"With the format confirmed, our focus is now solely on doing our best in France in what will be an extremely difficult show down with the French," Monteith said.

"When we last played in France we played in front of a large crowd, and it was a fantastic experience which we hope to repeat this Autumn". 

The ARLC will host the 2026 World Cup, which will be the last time that the Men’s, Women’s and Wheelchair tournaments are staged simultaneously. 

The three tournaments will then be split, with a standalone Women’s World Cup to be held in 2028, Wheelchair World Cup in 2029 and Men’s World Cup in 2030.