Rugby 7s qualifies for games

The Cook Islands rugby sevens squad has qualified to compete at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Cook Islands Sports and National Olympic Committee (CISNOC) received the good news early yesterday morning from the organisers of the Glasgow games.

Team Cook Islands chef de mission Robert Graham congratulates Cook Islands Rugby Union for the great effort and praises the association for their great decision making to get the squad through the qualifying process.

Graham says that the local rugby union’s decision to not attend the Pacific Mini Games in Wallis and Futuna earlier this year and instead compete at the Oceania 7s tournament in Fiji.

At the tournament, the Cooks emerged as the top placed non-core team at the tournament to book a spot at next year’s Hong Kong sevens.

The Cook Islands finished fourth in the Oceania 7s, losing to Australia 5-49 in the 3rd/4th place playoffs.

Coach Chad Tuoro was overwhelmed with the achievement but indicated a lot more work was needed to make the side competitive in the international 7s circuit.

Tuoro said they were hoping to secure some funds for Hong Kong and will be looking to local rugby supporters to help their team get there.

They will also need more support and funding to prepare for the Commonwealth Games where 17 national 7s teams will contest the tournament.

Graham says that he expects around 45 to 50 athletes and officials to make up Team Cook Islands at the games next year.

Other codes waiting to qualify for the games and join rugby 7s include lawn bowls, aquatics, weightlifting and athletics.

“We are very excited about this news and congratulate Cook Islands Rugby Union for their great decision making and management of the team,” says Graham.

Meanwhile, Graham and the team at the national sports office are confirming the programme for the arrival of the Queen’s Baton in the few weeks as part of the build up to next year’s games.