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The Cook Islands are to play historic test matches in Brazil and Mexico in June 2017. The tour represents a significant breakthrough for all three countries.
The Cook Islands will play one test match against each country, doing so in the Americas. The Pacific Islanders will also have two home test matches in November 2017. Opposition for these matches remains unconfirmed.
2017 will be the first time since 1980 that the Cook Islands have played against a country not from Oceania. The only prior intercontinental test match was against Italy in 1980.
The history making tour will also see both Brazil and Mexico playing against a country from Oceania for the first time. Mexico’s previous test matches against teams outside of Rugby Americas North were against Brazil in 2013 and Colombia in 1996.
Brazil has played much more by way of comparison. Prior tests matches have been against countries including Germany, Hong Kong, Kenya and Portugal. Beginning this year Brazil now also have annual matches against Canada and the USA in the Americas Rugby Championship.
Ranked 45th in the World, the Cook Islands sit between Brazil and Mexico in the official world rankings. Currently Brazil are 36th and Mexico are 55th. This may change this coming weekend as Mexico play host to the 47th ranked Guyana in a Rugby World Cup qualifier.
Both Brazil and the Cook Islands will begin their Rugby World Cup 2019 qualifiers in 2017. None of the three have previously played in a Rugby World Cup.
