Pasifika Youth Cup Rugby: Secret of Cooks Islands success in increasing player numbers

Miking up players, dancing TikToks, social video - it’s all played a part in the extraordinary growth of the Cook Islands rugby union club ahead of the third Pasifika Youth Cup.

Happy players at training ahead of the Pasifika Cup. Picture: Supplied

Miking up players, dancing TikToks, social video - it’s all played a part in the extraordinary growth of the Cook Island rugby union club ahead of the third Pasifika Youth Rugby Cup in Sydney’s west from Friday.

The 2024 event will be bigger and better than ever before with 10 extra boys team and six girls sides added into the mix this year - including the first U12s Cook Island team and an additional girls team in the 14s.

While others sports clubs are struggling to find girls to fill teams rosters, the opposite is true for the Cook Islands.

This club has a unique way of making players feel part of the wider community with every teams and players across all the age groups training on the same night at Blacktown.

To increase the solidarity of the club they also warming up together in a mass session.

Social media has also played a role in the success of the fast-growing club with TikTok dancing and videos especially popular.

Teams this year are made up of heritage and non heritage players after all who competed for the club at the now annual Pasifika Cup last year were invited to return to trial.

Training ahead of the Pasifika Cup.

Tiffany Thomas, from the Dee Why Lions and secretary of Cook Islands Rugby Union NSW, said numbers of players interested have increased 10 fold and after struggling to fill certain lineup ups this year there were plenty of players vying for teams in 2024.

“We have 10 teams in total, five girls and five boys,’’ said Thomas, whose husband Brian is president.

“We put a real emphasis on community spirit and support and the girl enjoy that and want to be a part of it.

Thomas said the club struggled to get number in the a number of boys and girls age groups last ear and had a to

Charlie Hargraves tackling a player at the 7s state champs

Marlee Tipoki Thomas in Tahs selection trials

“We openly invited every players from last year, heritage or not, to return and trial,’’ she said.

“We had to beg and borrow players last year from everywhere, from other clubs and the Barbarians list.

“But we didn’t need to do that this year. We have 115 boys, 90 girls, a new U12s and two extra teams in the U14s and were oversubscribed.’’

Thomas said the club as put a big emphatic on marketing and social media to engage players and attract new club members.

“We really push Facebook, the social reel, TikToks,’’ she said.

“It has worked.’’

A massive 188 games will be played at the Pasifika Youth Cup involving 1550 players and 74 teams.

Originally published as Pasifika Youth Cup Rugby: Secret of Cooks Islands success in increasing player numbers