A second representative Cook Islands squad fielded by tri-series players will take the place of the withdrawn Kiwis team.

Cook Islands players from the domestic league as well as Australia and New Zealand will make up the team to play the Kukis senior squad on October 6.

The Kuki team was meant to play the world champion New Zealand squad under the captaincy of Benji Marshall at Rarotongas BCI Stadium next Thursday, October 6.

But the team announced on Tuesday that it would be pulling out of the test match due to the unavailability of 29 players, who are tied up with this weekends NRL grand finals.

Decision-makers from Cook Islands Rugby League and the visiting Australian and New Zealand squads, who have already touched down in Rarotonga, held an emergency meeting yesterday in an attempt to salvage what they could from the Kiwis pull-out.

It was decided that the coach of the winning tri-series squad would lead the combined team and select the teams players based on their tri-series performance.

The other two coaches from the second and third placed teams would assist in selecting and organising the squad.

Apart from the changes to October 6s match, the rest of the tri-series and under 18s playing schedule is remaining the same.

CIRL president Charles Carlson said the match would feature the Cook Islands top players from right around the world.

Its the best of the best the Cook Islands top 36 league players, Carlson said.

With the absence of the New Zealand squad, Carlson said Cook Islands rugby league would take the spotlight over the coming weeks.

We have our top national squad here, so were promoting these top players and showing what they can do.

Our aim is to promote the Cook Islands league to our young players and get our youngsters to aspire to play for the Cook Islands and not the Kangaroos or the Kiwis.

The Australian and New Zealand Cook Islands teams will face off at the BCI Stadium this Friday afternoon, as per the original schedule.

The Cook Islands under 18s squad and the New Zealand Cook Islands under 18s team will play the first of three matches against each other in the lead-up to the Fridays match.

They will also play in the lead-up to Mondays tri-series match between the Cook Islands and the winner of Fridays Australia-New Zealand match.

A second representative Cook Islands squad fielded by tri-series players will take the place of the withdrawn Kiwis team.

Cook Islands players from the domestic league as well as Australia and New Zealand will make up the team to play the Kukis senior squad on October 6.

The Kuki team was meant to play the world champion New Zealand squad under the captaincy of Benji Marshall at Rarotongas BCI Stadium next Thursday, October 6.

But the team announced on Tuesday that it would be pulling out of the test match due to the unavailability of 29 players, who are tied up with this weekends NRL grand finals.

Decision-makers from Cook Islands Rugby League and the visiting Australian and New Zealand squads, who have already touched down in Rarotonga, held an emergency meeting yesterday in an attempt to salvage what they could from the Kiwis pull-out.

It was decided that the coach of the winning tri-series squad would lead the combined team and select the teams players based on their tri-series performance.

The other two coaches from the second and third placed teams would assist in selecting and organising the squad.

Apart from the changes to October 6s match, the rest of the tri-series and under 18s playing schedule is remaining the same.

CIRL president Charles Carlson said the match would feature the Cook Islands top players from right around the world.

Its the best of the best the Cook Islands top 36 league players, Carlson said.

With the absence of the New Zealand squad, Carlson said Cook Islands rugby league would take the spotlight over the coming weeks.

We have our top national squad here, so were promoting these top players and showing what they can do.

Our aim is to promote the Cook Islands league to our young players and get our youngsters to aspire to play for the Cook Islands and not the Kangaroos or the Kiwis.

The Australian and New Zealand Cook Islands teams will face off at the BCI Stadium this Friday afternoon, as per the original schedule.

The Cook Islands under 18s squad and the New Zealand Cook Islands under 18s team will play the first of three matches against each other in the lead-up to the Fridays match.

They will also play in the lead-up to Mondays tri-series match between the Cook Islands and the winner of Fridays Australia-New Zealand match.