Darts Cook Islands are in high spirits as the women maintain their gold medal and the men return with silver medals after losing to Papua New Guinea.

And with this news, the team returns home ready to make plans for the 5th South Pacific Darts Championship in Rarotonga after winning the bid to host the competition in 2027.

Darts media officer Maria Tuoro speaking from Auckland yesterday, said: “The team are in high spirits, the women maintain their Gold Medal and the Men just lost out to PNG.

“But the Cook Islands also won the bid to host the 5th South Pacific Darts Championship 2027, so Darts Cook Islands have already started planning to top the hosting that was done by Tonga in 2023 and Fiji in 2025.”

Cook Islands men’s team with the Papua New Guinea team. DCIA/ 25012601.

Tuoro said Darts Cook Islands Association (DCIA) President Kopurei Anguna is confident that the association with the support of the community will be able to deliver on its word.

Darts Cook Islands in a social media post said the bid was finalised and announced at the 4th South Pacific Darts Championship prize-giving.

“Darts Cook Islands will be planning for the next two years to be able to deliver a super competition and also increase the number of countries competing.”

Meanwhile, looking at the final results from the 4th South Pacific Darts Competition that was held in Suva, Fiji, the women won their match 6-0 after defeating Niue. They were unbeaten throughout the tournament.
The men’s team won silver to PNG 6-5.

It was in January 2023, that both the men and women’s teams made history when they won gold in these championships when they entered for the first time.
The Cooks 29-member team competed against Fiji, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu.
The 2025 Cook Islands Darts Team were:

Management team: Manager - Kopurei Anguna, Media – Maria Tuoro, Aporo and Shona Kirikava, Terangi and Tui Sila, Ina Atai, Travel Williams, and Mary DeLuze Hosking.

Men: Temata Matapo, Charlie Tapurau Hosking, Marsh Tamatea, Terepai Urirau, Puruata Tuapou, Manolito Tekopua, James Mata, Enoka Teaukura, Marc Marlon Rebollos, Roimata Peraua.

Women: Metua Kite, Teremoana Ioane, Tearii Riro, Rotana Tangapiri, Moeroa Raeina, Gardenia Moetaua, Taylor-Marsh Kahaki, Tarita Dean, Claudia Pepe, Kopurei Anguna.