Bristol ready to host Cooks

Cook Islands Rugby League Association president Charles Carlson (third from left) was in Bristol for the South England city’s league World Cup launch – less than a month out from the start of the highly anticipated tournament.

Excitement is bubbling ahead of the group game between the Cook Islands and the USA Tomahawks, which will be staged at the Memorial Stadium on Wednesday, October 30 in Bristol.

Bristol is the Cook Islands host city and will support the nation right through its world cup campaign.

On the night of the game, there promises to be a “packed schedule” of pre-match entertainment at the Mem (Memorial Stadium).

City officials have an ambitious target to fill the Memorial Stadium and with just one month to go they are asking local people to rally round, go and buy their tickets and be prepared to enjoy a great sporting spectacle, right on their door step.

Councillor Simon Cook, Bristol’s executive member for leisure and tourism, said: “The 2013 Rugby League World Cup will show Bristol at its best. We are ready to welcome the Cook Islands team as their home-from-home host city and are looking forward to the big match when they take on the USA Tomahawks.

“By hosting this international sporting event we are demonstrating the city’s credentials as the West Country’s sporting capital.”

The 2013 World Cup opens on Saturday, October 26, at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, when Wales takes on Italy and co-host England plays Australia.