Rugby League World Cup

The Rock thrashed South Africa 48-4 during their last hit-out in May and are now ranked 32nd in the world.

The 17th ranked Cook Islands will use the game on October the third as preparation for their Rugby League World Cup qualifying match against Tonga two weeks later.

Niue coach Brendan Perenara says even though the match doesn't have test status or rankings points on offer, going up against the Cook Islands will be the biggest game in their history.

The Cook Islands were one of five Pacific countries to contest the last World Cup but face a winner-takes-all playoff against Tonga in October to secure their spot in the 2017 event.

The annual Pacific Test programme has been running for three years but the Kukis have so far missed out, with Fiji, Samoa, Tonga and Papua New Guinea all featuring in games.

The President of Cook Islands Rugby League, Charles Carlson, says if the other Pacific countries won't play them they will have to find teams that will.