2019 Rugby League World Cup Qualifier - Cook Islands v South Africa

[@danielmoore9119]

I’m South African in my 30’s and I honestly have never seen this played at any level in South Africa or even discussed. There is zero awareness of this format here. We have such a large pool of talent that loose out due to the limited spots available that could benefit massively from this format.

[@CHILLVIBES_STUDIO437]

Rugby League in South Africa was on the rise during the 90s, but it was under the same governing body as rugby union. At one point, it was a threat to rugby union in South Africa, as such the rugby union governing body decide to shut down all rugby league competitions, which led to rugby league dying out in south Africa. Around the 1990s, until the 2000s, South Africa was actually competitive in rugby league on the world stage, having qualified for both the 1995 World Cup and the 2000 World cup.

[@rockkid8306]

I am surprised South Africa don't take rugby league more seriously given the size of their rugby union players.

[@jahmon7117]

Too fast paced

[@martinbirmingham4450]

The game hasn't been taken to the black and coloured population, if you notice all these Rhino teams are made up of white players and white management. The South African governing sports body SASCOC will not even recognise them. So little chance of any RL development happening there in the near future.

[@Ev1LAngeLXIII]

Get the quicker African players & the Afrikaaner soccer players make good Rugby League players, good evasive feet skills, run all day & speed to burn . They just need to be taught to tackle, draw a defender, catch & pass.

[@stefanaratangi3444]

Proud to be a raro

[@usarugbyleagueunionfan]

We’re going to have our work cut out for us. 🇺🇸🏉

[@velocityjet1884]

What a smashing

[@AliKaks]

close game

[@kukiznation9230]

Ruben renning to good

[@jaymann7566]

Dumb match Cook Islands got experience players ofcourse they gonna win

[@user-hb8ur9cu7y]

Is there a rule saying you can’t use your experience players ? No so stfu

[@tiotiwilliams8311]

Brah we still would’ve won using our 2nd grade players as well 😂

[@sportydude9337]

Should have been SA and America to qualify. Wasted spot.

[@gamebro5991]

How can it be a wasted spot if cook islands were obviously the better team?

[@sportydude9337]

@@gamebro5991 Commercially offer nothing. Waste of a spot for promoting the game. They used all their better players for the game. Of course they were better.

[@bFORCe2003]

@@sportydude9337 meh....rugby league is a minor sport in those Countries, you could see this with the number of people who turned out to watch the USA v Cook Is qualifier later that year, hardly anyone turned up and that was in the supposed league stronghold in the US (Jacksonville Florida).

[@sportydude9337]

@@bFORCe2003 NARL coming up. Let’s wait and see.

[@brucecarr5238]

How is cook Islands a wasted spot in the world cup?

[@alfiethebutler3805]

A mother of a hiding.