Reg Cooke
Encyclopedia
Reg Cooke is a New Zealand
former rugby league
player who represented his country
in the 1960 World Cup
.
competition and represented Waikato. In 1960 he was selected for the New Zealand Kiwis squad for the 1960 World Cup
but did not play in a match.
Instead, he made his debut in 1961 against Australia. For the 1961 season Cooke had moved north to Auckland
, joining the Papakura club
who played as part of Eastern United in the Auckland Rugby League
competition. He also represented Auckland
, who defended the Northern Union Cup against Canterbury and the West Coast
that year. At the end of the season Cooke toured Great Britain and France with the Kiwis.
Cooke joined City-Newton in 1964 and went on to score 205 points for them that season. After several years of only representing Auckland Cooke was again selected for New Zealand that year, playing his final test against France
.
Cooke later moved to Australia and played for Queensland Firsts
four times in 1967.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
former rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
player who represented his country
New Zealand national rugby league team
The New Zealand national rugby league team has represented New Zealand in rugby league football since intercontinental competition began for the sport in 1907. Administered by the New Zealand Rugby League, they are commonly known as the Kiwis, after the native bird of that name...
in the 1960 World Cup
1960 Rugby League World Cup
The 1960 Rugby League World Cup was the third staging of the tournament and the first Rugby league World Cup to be held in Great Britain. The same format as used in 1957 was used, with a group stage leading to a final table....
.
Playing career
Cooke originally played in the Waikato Rugby LeagueWaikato Rugby League
Waikato Rugby League is the local sporting body responsible for the administration of Rugby league in the Waikato region of New Zealand. The WRL are represented by the Waikato rugby league team...
competition and represented Waikato. In 1960 he was selected for the New Zealand Kiwis squad for the 1960 World Cup
1960 Rugby League World Cup
The 1960 Rugby League World Cup was the third staging of the tournament and the first Rugby league World Cup to be held in Great Britain. The same format as used in 1957 was used, with a group stage leading to a final table....
but did not play in a match.
Instead, he made his debut in 1961 against Australia. For the 1961 season Cooke had moved north to Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, joining the Papakura club
Papakura Sea Eagles
The Papakura Sea Eagles are an Auckland rugby league club based in Papakura. The Sea Eagles currently compete in the Fox Memorial competition run by the Auckland Rugby League.-Kiwi Representatives:...
who played as part of Eastern United in the Auckland Rugby League
Auckland Rugby League
The Auckland Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in the Auckland Region of New Zealand. It is responsible for rugby league in the region and was the owner of Carlaw Park, once the "spiritual home of rugby league in New Zealand".-History:The Auckland Rugby League was...
competition. He also represented Auckland
Auckland rugby league team
The Auckland rugby league team is the team which traditionally represents all of the clubs which play in the Auckland Rugby League competition. The Auckland Rugby League team has traditionally been a powerhouse of New Zealand domestic rugby league...
, who defended the Northern Union Cup against Canterbury and the West Coast
West Coast rugby league team
The West Coast rugby league team are New Zealand rugby league team that represents the West Coast Rugby League. They have been nicknamed the Chargers.-History:...
that year. At the end of the season Cooke toured Great Britain and France with the Kiwis.
Cooke joined City-Newton in 1964 and went on to score 205 points for them that season. After several years of only representing Auckland Cooke was again selected for New Zealand that year, playing his final test against France
France national rugby league team
The France national rugby league team represent France in international rugby league tournaments. They are also sometimes referred to as "Les Tricolores" or more commonly "Les Chanticleers"...
.
Cooke later moved to Australia and played for Queensland Firsts
Queensland rugby league team
The Queensland rugby league team have represented the Australian state of Queensland in rugby league football since the sport's beginnings there in 1908...
four times in 1967.