Tonga have qualified for the 2017 Rugby League World Cup defeating Cook Islands 28-8 at Campbelltown Stadium.

The Kukis opened the scoring in the opening three minutes via Melbourne Storm youngster Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad but went to the half-time break down 12-8 after the Tongans crossed through Jorge Taufua and Mahe Fonua.

While the Cook Islands were impressive, Tonga flexed their muscle when they needed to and have taken the ninth spot available for the World Cup to be played across Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.

Canada defeated USA 34-28 in Philadelphia early Monday morning to inch closer to a World Cup birth and win their straight match against their bitter North American rivals.

France began their European Championship campaign with a dose of revenge against Ireland in Albi after the Irish shocked the French in 2014. France won the match 31-14 while Wales outlasted Scotland 18-12 in Wrexham.

Norway, ranked thirteenth in the RLEF rankings, outlasted Sweden 30-20 in Oslo to claim the Nordic Cup.

Greece hosted Spain in Athens but it quickly became a bloodbath with the visiting Spaniards hammering the Greeks 78-4.

The weekend of international rugby league started in Bangkok with Thailand 30 beating Japan 6.

Results:
Canada 34 – USA 28
Norway 30 – Sweden 20
France 31 – Ireland 14
Spain 78 – Greece 4
Tonga 28 – Cook Islands 8
Wales 18 – Scotland 12
Thailand 30 – Japan 6

Next Weekend:
New Zealand v Leeds Rhinos
Scotland v Ireland
England v France