Bristol's Lord Mayor, Councillor Faruk Choudhury, players and coaches from the Cook Islands Rugby League team and representatives from the consortium raised the Cook Island flag outside City Hall, for the duration of the Cook Islands' team's stay. (L-R) John Hirst (Destination Bristol), Ian 'Muddy' Waters (Rugby league fans' rep), Lord Mayor, Kevin Iro, Charlie Hoff and Teina Tapurau.

THE Cook Islands rugby league team have landed in Bristol and are making themselves at home.

Their national flag was unfurled outside City Hall yesterday as the players, coached and officials were welcomed ahead of their World Cup clash with the USA Tomahawks at the Memorial Stadium next Wednesday night.

They will be hoping their public appearances during the next week will boost ticket sales, as only about 1,500 seats in the near-12,000 capacity ground have been sold so far.

Bristol Lord Mayor Faruk Choudhury, Cook Islands players and local dignitaries raised the country's flag, which will fly outside City Hall for the duration of the team's stay. They will be based here their group D matches and will train at Filton College's Wise Campus.

Tonga and Wales are their other opponents, but only the USA clash will be held in Bristol.

Fans Local Advisory Group representative Ian "Muddy" Waters, a rugby league referee from Southmead, said: "We have an ambitious target to fill the Memorial Stadium. We want local people to rally round, go and buy their tickets and be prepared to enjoy a great sporting spectacle right on their doorstep."

Councillor Simon Cook, executive member for leisure and tourism, said: "By hosting this international sporting event we are demonstrating the city's credentials as the West Country's sporting capital."

The Cook Islands is a country in the South Pacific ocean. The former British colony comprises 15 small islands whose total land area is only 240 square kilometres. In a warm-up game against world champions New Zealand at the weekend, the Cook Islands lost 50-0.

But their clash against the Tomahawks is likely to be much more evenly matched.

See more here:

Visiting Cook Islands rugby players arrive in Bristol ahead of World Cup