Australia men's national field hockey team

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The Australia men's national field hockey team (nicknamed the Kookaburras) is one of the nation's most successful top-level sporting teams. They are the only Australian team in any sport to receive medals at six straight Summer Olympic Games (1992–2012). The Kookaburras placed in the top four in every Olympics between 1980 and 2012 winning gold in 2004; in 2016, the Kookaburras placed sixth.[3] They won the Hockey World Cup in 1986, 2010 and 2014. They won the Hockey Champions Trophy 15 times, the most by any team. They also won the Pro League and World League twice each.

Nickname(s)The Kookaburras
AssociationHockey Australia
ConfederationOHF (Oceania)
Head CoachMark Hager
Quick facts Nickname(s), Association ...
Australia
Nickname(s)The Kookaburras
AssociationHockey Australia
ConfederationOHF (Oceania)
Head CoachMark Hager
Assistant coach(es)Anthony Potter
ManagerMelissa Grey
CaptainAran Zalewski
Most capsEdward Ockenden (451)
Top scorerJamie Dwyer (244)
Team colours
Team colours
Team colours
Team colours
Team colours
Home
Team colours
Team colours
Team colours
Team colours
Team colours
Away
FIH ranking
Current 3 Increase 2 (9 March 2026)[1]
Highest1 (2005, 2010–2011, 2014 – January 2017, December 2017 – July 2018, June 2019 – January 2020)
Lowest6 (2023, August 2024)
First international
New Zealand  5–4  Australia
(Palmerston North, New Zealand; 27 September 1922)[2]
Biggest win
Australia  36–0  Samoa
(Stratford, New Zealand; 24 October 2015)
Biggest defeat
Australia  1–12  India
(Melbourne, Australia; 17 August 1935)
Olympic Games
Appearances17 (first in 1956)
Best resultGold1st (2004)
World Cup
Appearances14 (first in 1971)
Best resultGold medal – World1st (1986, 2010, 2014)
Oceania Cup
Appearances12 (first in 1999)
Best resultGold 1st (1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2023)
Medal record
Event 1st 2nd 3rd
Olympic Games 1 4 5
World Cup 3 2 5
Oceania Cup 12 0 0
Champions Trophy 15 10 5
Commonwealth Games 7 0 0
Hockey World League 2 0 0
Pro League 2 1 0
Total 42 17 15
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place2004 AthensTeam
Silver medal – second place1968 Mexico CityTeam
Silver medal – second place1976 MontrealTeam
Silver medal – second place1992 BarcelonaTeam
Silver medal – second place2020 TokyoTeam
Bronze medal – third place1964 TokyoTeam
Bronze medal – third place1996 AtlantaTeam
Bronze medal – third place2000 SydneyTeam
Bronze medal – third place2008 BeijingTeam
Bronze medal – third place2012 LondonTeam
World Cup
Gold medal – first place1986 London
Gold medal – first place2010 New Delhi
Gold medal – first place2014 The Hague
Silver medal – second place2002 Kuala Lumpur
Silver medal – second place2006 Mönchengladbach
Bronze medal – third place1978 Buenos Aires
Bronze medal – third place1982 Bombay
Bronze medal – third place1990 Lahore
Bronze medal – third place1994 Sydney
Bronze medal – third place2018 Bhubaneswar
Oceania Cup
Gold medal – first place1999 Brisbane
Gold medal – first place2001 Melbourne
Gold medal – first place2003 Christchurch–Wellington
Gold medal – first place2005 Suva
Gold medal – first place2007 Buderim
Gold medal – first place2009 Invercargill
Gold medal – first place2011 Hobart
Gold medal – first place2013 Stratford
Gold medal – first place2015 Stratford
Gold medal – first place2017 Sydney
Gold medal – first place2019 Rockhampton
Gold medal – first place2023 Whangarei
Champions Trophy
Gold medal – first place1983 Karachi
Gold medal – first place1984 Karachi
Gold medal – first place1985 Perth
Gold medal – first place1989 Berlin
Gold medal – first place1990 Melbourne
Gold medal – first place1993 Kuala Lumpur
Gold medal – first place1999 Brisbane
Gold medal – first place2005 Chennai
Gold medal – first place2008 Rotterdam
Gold medal – first place2009 Melbourne
Gold medal – first place2010 Mönchengladbach
Gold medal – first place2011 Auckland
Gold medal – first place2012 Melbourne
Gold medal – first place2016 London
Gold medal – first place2018 Breda
Silver medal – second place1978 Lahore
Silver medal – second place1981 Karachi
Silver medal – second place1982 Amstelveen
Silver medal – second place1986 Lahore
Silver medal – second place1992 Karachi
Silver medal – second place1995 Berlin
Silver medal – second place1997 Adelaide
Silver medal – second place2001 Rotterdam
Silver medal – second place2003 Amstelveen
Silver medal – second place2007 Kuala Lumpur
Bronze medal – third place1980 Karachi
Bronze medal – third place1987 Amstelveen
Bronze medal – third place1988 Lahore
Bronze medal – third place1998 Lahore
Bronze medal – third place2014 Bhubaneswar
Commonwealth Games
Gold medal – first place1998 Kuala LumpurTeam
Gold medal – first place2002 ManchesterTeam
Gold medal – first place2006 MelbourneTeam
Gold medal – first place2010 New DelhiTeam
Gold medal – first place2014 GlasgowTeam
Gold medal – first place2018 Gold CoastTeam
Gold medal – first place2022 BirminghamTeam
Hockey World League
Gold medal – first place2014–15 RaipurTeam
Gold medal – first place2016–17 BhubaneswarTeam
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The Kookaburras' inability to win an Olympic gold medal despite their perennial competitiveness, led many in the Australian hockey community to speak of a "curse" afflicting the team,[4] finally broken in 2004 with the win in Athens. However, they failed to win Gold after that after losses in subsequent Olympics including a loss to Belgium in the Gold Medal Match of 2020 Tokyo Olympics - the Kookaburras instead won the silver medal.[5]

History

Australia's first men's team competed in an international match in 1922.[6]

The first major competition won by the national team was the 1983 World Championships held in Karachi.[7]

Participations

Australia's first men's team competed at the Olympics in field hockey at the 1956 Summer Olympics.[7]

Australia did not medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics[8] or the 1988 Summer Olympics.[9] At the 1992 Summer Olympics, Australia earned a silver medal, losing gold to Germany.[10] At the 1996 Summer Olympics, Australia finished third, earning a bronze medal.[11]

The team won their first Olympic gold medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics. Barry Dancer coached the side.[12]

Should Australia win the gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics they will become the first national team in field hockey history to hold all four international titles available to them simultaneously. They would hold titles in the 2012 Olympics, 2010 World Cup, 2011 Champions Trophy and their continental championship (2011 Oceania Cup) at the same time. Along with those four titles Australia also holds the Commonwealth Games title from the 2010 championships.

  • Australia at the 2008 Olympics
    Australia at the 2008 Olympics
  • Australia at the 2012 Olympics
    Australia at the 2012 Olympics

Tournament records

More information Year, Host city ...
Olympic Games[13]
Year Host city Position
1908 United Kingdom London, United Kingdom –
1920 Belgium Antwerp, Belgium –
1928 Netherlands Amsterdam, Netherlands –
1932 United States Los Angeles, United States –
1936 Germany Berlin, Germany –
1948 United Kingdom London, United Kingdom –
1952 Finland Helsinki, Finland –
1956 Australia Melbourne, Australia 5th
1960 Italy Rome, Italy 6th
1964 Japan Tokyo, Japan 3rd
1968 Mexico Mexico City, Mexico 2nd
1972 Germany Munich, Germany 5th
1976 Canada Montreal, Canada 2nd
1980 Soviet Union Moscow, Soviet Union Boycott
1984 United States Los Angeles, United States 4th
1988 South Korea Seoul, South Korea 4th
1992 Spain Barcelona, Spain 2nd
1996 United States Atlanta, United States 3rd
2000 Australia Sydney, Australia 3rd
2004 Greece Athens, Greece 1st
2008 China Beijing, China 3rd
2012 United Kingdom London, United Kingdom 3rd
2016 Brazil Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 6th
2020 Japan Tokyo, Japan 2nd
2024 France Paris, France 6th
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More information Year, Host city ...
FIH World Cup[14]
Year Host city Position
1971 Spain Barcelona, Spain 8th
1973 Netherlands Amsterdam, Netherlands Withdrew
1975 Malaysia Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 5th
1978 Argentina Buenos Aires, Argentina 3rd
1982 India Bombay, India 3rd
1986 England London, England 1st
1990 Pakistan Lahore, Pakistan 3rd
1994 Australia Sydney, Australia 3rd
1998 Netherlands Utrecht, Netherlands 4th
2002 Malaysia Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 2nd
2006 Germany Mönchengladbach, Germany 2nd
2010 India New Delhi, India 1st
2014 Netherlands The Hague, Netherlands 1st
2018 India Bhubaneswar, India 3rd
2023 India Bhubaneswar and Rourkela, India 4th
2026 Belgium Wavre, Belgium
Netherlands Amsterdam, Netherlands		 Q
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More information Year, Host city ...
FIH Champions Trophy[15]
Year Host city Position
1978 Pakistan Lahore, Pakistan 2nd
1980 Pakistan Karachi, Pakistan 3rd
1981 2nd
1982 Netherlands Amstelveen, Netherlands 2nd
1983 Pakistan Karachi, Pakistan 1st
1984 1st
1985 Australia Perth, Australia 1st
1986 Pakistan Lahore, Pakistan 2nd
1987 Netherlands Amstelveen, Netherlands 3rd
1988 Pakistan Lahore, Pakistan 3rd
1989 Germany Berlin, West Germany 1st
1990 Australia Melbourne, Australia 1st
1991 Germany Berlin, Germany 4th
1992 Pakistan Karachi, Pakistan 2nd
1993 Malaysia Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 1st
1994 Pakistan Lahore, Pakistan 4th
1995 Germany Berlin, Germany 2nd
1996 India Madras, India 6th
1997 Australia Adelaide, Australia 2nd
1998 Pakistan Lahore, Pakistan 3rd
1999 Australia Brisbane, Australia 1st
2000 Netherlands Amstelveen, Netherlands 5th
2001 Netherlands Rotterdam, Netherlands 2nd
2002 Germany Cologne, Germany 5th
2003 Netherlands Amstelveen, Netherlands 2nd
2004 Pakistan Lahore, Pakistan Withdrew[16]
2005 India Chennai, India 1st
2006 Spain Terrassa, Spain 4th
2007 Malaysia Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 2nd
2008 Netherlands Rotterdam, Netherlands 1st
2009 Australia Melbourne, Australia 1st
2010 Germany Mönchengladbach, Germany 1st
2011 New Zealand Auckland, New Zealand 1st
2012 Australia Melbourne, Australia 1st
2014 India Bhubaneswar, India 3rd
2016 United Kingdom London, United Kingdom 1st
2018 Netherlands Breda, Netherlands 1st
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More information FIH World League, Year ...
FIH World League[13]
Year Round Host city Position
2012–13 Semifinal Netherlands Rotterdam, Netherlands 2nd
Final India New Delhi, India 4th
2014–15 Semifinal Belgium Antwerp, Belgium 1st
Final India Raipur, India 1st
2016–17 Semifinal South Africa Johannesburg, South Africa 3rd
Final India Bhubaneswar, India 1st
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More information Year, Season ...
FIH Pro League[17]
Year Season Position
2019 Season One 1st
2020–21 Season Two 2nd
2021–22 Season Three Withdrew
2022–23 Season Four 7th
2023–24 Season Five 1st
2024–25 Season Six 5th
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More information Commonwealth Games, Year ...
Commonwealth Games[13]
Year Host city Position
1998 Malaysia Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 1st
2002 England Manchester, England 1st
2006 Australia Melbourne, Australia 1st
2010 India New Delhi, India 1st
2014 Scotland Glasgow, Scotland 1st
2018 Australia Gold Coast, Australia 1st
2022 England Birmingham, England 1st
Close
More information Year, Host city ...
Oceania Cup[18]
Year Host city Position
1999 Australia Brisbane, Australia 1st
2001 Australia Melbourne, Australia 1st
2003 New Zealand Christchurch and Wellington, New Zealand 1st
2005 Fiji Suva, Fiji 1st
2007 Australia Buderim, Australia 1st
2009 New Zealand Invercargill, New Zealand 1st
2011 Australia Hobart, Australia 1st
2013 New Zealand Stratford, New Zealand 1st
2015 1st
2017 Australia Sydney, Australia 1st
2019 Australia Rockhampton, Australia 1st
2023 New Zealand Whangārei, New Zealand 1st
2025 Australia Darwin, Australia 1st
Close
More information Year, Host city ...
Sultan Azlan Shah Cup[19]
Year Host city Position
1983 Malaysia Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 1st
1985–1991 Did Not Compete
1994 Malaysia Penang, Malaysia 3rd
1995 Malaysia Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia –
1996 Malaysia Ipoh, Malaysia 2nd
1998 1st
1999 Malaysia Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia –
2000 –
2001 3rd
2003 –
2004 1st
2005 1st
2006 2nd
2007 Malaysia Ipoh, Malaysia 1st
2008 –
2009 –
2010 3rd
2011 1st
2012 –
2013 1st
2014 1st
2015 2nd
2016 1st
2017 2nd
2018 1st
2019–Present Did Not Compete
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Team

Current squad

The following 28 players were named in the Kookaburras 2026 squad.[20]

All caps and goals current as of 7 September 2025, following the match against New Zealand.

Head coach: Mark Hager

More information No., Pos. ...
No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps GoalsClub
12 GK Jed Snowden (2001-08-15) 15 August 2001 (age 24) 17 0 South Australia Adelaide Fire
28 GK Ashleigh Thomas (1995-07-21) 21 July 1995 (age 30) 18 0 New South Wales NSW Pride
31 GK Magnus McCausland (2004-09-24) 24 September 2004 (age 21) 0 0 Tasmania Tassie Tigers
6 DF Anand Gupte (1998-09-04) 4 September 1998 (age 27) 22 0 Australian Capital Territory Canberra Chill
10 DF Joshua Beltz (Captain) (1995-04-24) 24 April 1995 (age 30) 133 5 Tasmania Tassie Tigers
11 DF Ian Grobbelaar (2005-04-22) 22 April 2005 (age 20) 0 0 Western Australia Perth Thundersticks
16 DF Timothy Howard (Captain) (1996-06-23) 23 June 1996 (age 29) 154 3 India Team Gonasika
26 DF James Collins (2000-02-25) 25 February 2000 (age 26) 43 0 Western Australia Perth Thundersticks
32 DF Jeremy Hayward (Captain) (1993-03-03) 3 March 1993 (age 33) 245 122 India Soorma Hockey Club
56 DF Connar Otterbach (2001-08-16) 16 August 2001 (age 24) 9 1 Victoria (state) HC Melbourne
1 MF Lachlan Sharp (1997-07-02) 2 July 1997 (age 28) 110 22 India Rarh Bengal Tigers
3 MF Dylan Downey (2005-01-25) 25 January 2005 (age 21) 0 0 New South Wales NSW Pride
4 MF Lachlan Rogers (2004-08-24) 24 August 2004 (age 21) 0 0 Tasmania Tassie Tigers
9 MF Liam Henderson (2003-08-28) 28 August 2003 (age 22) 11 0 Victoria (state) HC Melbourne
15 MF Jayden Atkinson (2001-07-09) 9 July 2001 (age 24) 30 0 Queensland Brisbane Blaze
23 MF Hayden Beltz (1997-09-08) 8 September 1997 (age 28) 25 0 India Rarh Bengal Tigers
24 MF Cambell Geddes (2002-06-18) 18 June 2002 (age 23) 7 2 Western Australia Perth Thundersticks
25 MF Nathan Czinner (2002-03-19) 19 March 2002 (age 24) 18 0 New South Wales NSW Pride
30 MF Davis Atkin (2001-02-17) 17 February 2001 (age 25) 18 2 Australian Capital Territory Canberra Chill
2 FW Thomas Craig (1995-09-03) 3 September 1995 (age 30) 153 47 India Hyderabad Toofans
5 FW Cooper Burns (2002-03-06) 6 March 2002 (age 24) 15 6 Victoria (state) HC Melbourne
7 FW Nathan Ephraums (1999-06-09) 9 June 1999 (age 26) 92 38 India Tamil Nadu Dragons
13 FW Blake Govers (1996-07-06) 6 July 1996 (age 29) 175 162 India Tamil Nadu Dragons
19 FW Craig Marais (2002-05-28) 28 May 2002 (age 23) 33 2 Victoria (state) HC Melbourne
20 MF Ky Willott (2001-03-15) 15 March 2001 (age 25) 76 22 India Delhi SG Pipers
21 FW Jack Welch (1997-10-26) 26 October 1997 (age 28) 56 20 Tasmania Tassie Tigers
27 FW Joel Rintala (1996-07-24) 24 July 1996 (age 29) 10 10 Queensland Brisbane Blaze
29 FW Timothy Brand (1998-11-29) 29 November 1998 (age 27) 117 39 India Hyderabad Toofans
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Recent call-ups

The following players have received call-ups to the national team in the last twelve months.

More information Pos., Player ...
Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Mitchell Nicholson (1997-12-18) 18 December 1997 (age 28) 4 0 Queensland Brisbane Blaze v.  Netherlands; 9 February 2025
DF Corey Weyer (1996-03-28) 28 March 1996 (age 29) 75 4 Queensland Brisbane Blaze v.  New Zealand; 7 September 2025
DF Jake Harvie (1998-03-05) 5 March 1998 (age 28) 149 9 Western Australia Perth Thundersticks v.  Netherlands; 9 February 2025
DF Thomas Harvie (2000-02-01) 1 February 2000 (age 26) 15 0 Western Australia Perth Thundersticks v.  Germany; 25 June 2025
FW Benjamin White (2000-10-02) 2 October 2000 (age 25) 12 2 Victoria (state) HC Melbourne v.  England; 22 June 2025
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Notable players

Results and fixtures

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixture

2025

14 June 2025 Europe Leg Australia  3–2  India Antwerp, Belgium
10:30 Report Stadium: Wilrijkse Plein Antwerp
15 June 2025 Europe Leg India  2–3  Australia Antwerp, Belgium
10:30 Report Stadium: Wilrijkse Plein Antwerp
17 June 2025 Europe Leg Australia  6–1  Ireland Antwerp, Belgium
15:30 Report Stadium: Wilrijkse Plein Antwerp
18 June 2025 Europe Leg Ireland  1–6  Australia Antwerp, Belgium
15:30 Report Stadium: Wilrijkse Plein Antwerp
21 June 2025 Europe Leg England  3–4  Australia London, England
15:30 Report Stadium: Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre
22 June 2025 Europe Leg England  2–1  Australia London, England
14:30 Report Stadium: Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre
24 June 2025 Europe Leg Germany  3–2  Australia Berlin, Germany
19:30 Report Stadium: Ernst Reuter Sportfeld
25 June 2025 Europe Leg Germany  5–0  Australia Berlin, Germany
19:30 Report Stadium: Ernst Reuter Sportfeld
4 September 2025 Match 1 Australia  2–0  New Zealand Darwin, Australia
18:10 Report Stadium: Marrara Hockey Centre
6 September 2025 Match 2 Australia  4–1  New Zealand Darwin, Australia
16:10 Report Stadium: Marrara Hockey Centre
7 September 2025 Match 3 Australia  4–1  New Zealand Darwin, Australia
16:10 Report Stadium: Marrara Hockey Centre

2026

10 February 2026 Australia Leg Australia  3–2  Pakistan Hobart, Australia
17:30 Brand field hockey ball 2', 19'
Govers field hockey ball 58'		 Report Nadeem field hockey ball 49'
Khan field hockey ball 53'		 Stadium: Tasmanian Hockey Centre
12 February 2026 Australia Leg Australia  3–0  Germany Hobart, Australia
17:30 Rintala field hockey ball 10'
Geddes field hockey ball 18'
Marais field hockey ball 37'		 Report Stadium: Tasmanian Hockey Centre
13 February 2026 Australia Leg Australia  3–0  Pakistan Hobart, Australia
17:30 Govers field hockey ball 14', 34'
Welch field hockey ball 42'		 Report Stadium: Tasmanian Hockey Centre
15 February 2026 Australia Leg Australia  3–2  Germany Hobart, Australia
15:30 Welch field hockey ball 8'
Govers field hockey ball 18'
Brand field hockey ball 47'		 Report Brilla field hockey ball 10', 16' Stadium: Tasmanian Hockey Centre
20 February 2026 Australia Leg Australia  3–1  Spain Hobart, Australia
19:30 Welch field hockey ball 3', 58'
Rintala field hockey ball 16'		 Report Álvarez field hockey ball 53' Stadium: Tasmanian Hockey Centre
22 February 2026 Australia Leg Australia  2–2
(5–4 p)		  India Hobart, Australia
17:30 Rintala field hockey ball 47', 56' Report Rohidas field hockey ball 15'
Jugraj field hockey ball 43'		 Stadium: Tasmanian Hockey Centre
Penalties
Brand Penalty shoot-out scored
Henderson Penalty shoot-out scored
Howard Penalty shoot-out scored
Welch Penalty shoot-out scored
Craig Penalty shoot-out scored		 Penalty shoot-out scored Lakra
Penalty shoot-out scored Maninder
Penalty shoot-out scored Pal
Penalty shoot-out scored Jugraj
Penalty shoot-out missed Aditya
23 February 2026 Australia Leg Australia  3–0  Spain Hobart, Australia
19:30 Rintala field hockey ball 1'
Hayward field hockey ball 36'
Craig field hockey ball 44'		 Report Stadium: Tasmanian Hockey Centre
25 February 2026 Australia Leg Australia  1–1
(1–3 p)		  India Hobart, Australia
19:30 Hayward field hockey ball 49' Report Lakra field hockey ball 51' Stadium: Tasmanian Hockey Centre
Penalties
Brand Penalty shoot-out missed
Henderson Penalty shoot-out missed
Burns Penalty shoot-out missed
Hayward Penalty shoot-out scored		 Penalty shoot-out scored Lakra
Penalty shoot-out scored Maninder
Penalty shoot-out missed Abhishek
Penalty shoot-out scored Vishnukant
14 June 2026 England Leg England  v  Australia London, England
12:30 Report Stadium: Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre
17 June 2026 England Leg Australia  v  Argentina London, England
17:00 Report Stadium: Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre
18 June 2026 England Leg Argentina  v  Australia London, England
17:00 Report Stadium: Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre
21 June 2026 England Leg England  v  Australia London, England
11:30 Report Stadium: Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre
23 June 2026 Belgium Leg Australia  v  Netherlands Wavre, Belgium
18:00 Report Stadium: Stade Justin Peeters
25 June 2026 Belgium Leg Belgium  v  Australia Wavre, Belgium
21:00 Report Stadium: Stade Justin Peeters
26 June 2026 Belgium Leg Netherlands  v  Australia Wavre, Belgium
21:00 Report Stadium: Stade Justin Peeters
28 June 2026 Belgium Leg Belgium  v  Australia Wavre, Belgium
17:00 Report Stadium: Stade Justin Peeters
16 August 2026 World Cup Pool C Australia  v  Ireland Wavre, Belgium
11:30 Stadium: Stade Justin Peeters
18 August 2026 World Cup Pool C Spain  v  Australia Wavre, Belgium
14:00 Stadium: Stade Justin Peeters
20 August 2026 World Cup Pool C Australia  v  South Africa Wavre, Belgium
11:30 Stadium: Stade Justin Peeters

Family

Barry Dancer/Brent Dancer and Ric Charlesworth/Jonathan Charlesworth are two pairs of father as coach and son as player while both were affiliated with the national team in those positions.[12][21]

Recognition

References

External links

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