Men
Reigning World Champions Australia come into the Rabobank Hockey World Cup as the number one ranked team and have set themselves the clear target of defending the title they won in New Delhi, India four years ago.
Legendary coach Ric Charlesworth – who recently announced his intention to step down after the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland – has named a squad packed full of tried and tested world class players along with a sprinkling of fresh talent.
Four players – Rob Hammond, Liam de Young, Mark Knowles and 35-year-old, five times FIH Player of the Year Jamie Dwyer – are all Gold medalists from the Athens 2004 Olympic Games and were central figures in the squad that won the 2010 World Cup. Kieran Govers, Fergus Kavanagh, Eddie Ockenden, Simon Orchard, Matthew Swann and Glenn Turner were also members of the 2010 team, ensuring that there is plenty of Hockey World Cup experience within the group.
The youngest member of the squad is Jeremy Hayward, a 21-year-old attacker who recently made his senior international tournament debut at the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Malaysia, impressing with three goals as “The Kookaburras” claimed the title. Australia are widely expected to be among the frontrunners for the Gold medal, and could take some stopping.
Best World Cup results:
The men won gold in 1986 (London) and 2010 (Bombay). They’ve taken part in 11 previous World Cups.
FIH World Ranking:
2nd
Team
| 1 Jamie Dwyer | 2 Liam de Young |
| 3 Simon Orchard | 4 Glenn Turner |
| 5 Chris Ciriello | 6 Robert Hammond |
| 9 Mark Knowles | 11 Eddie Ockenden |
| 12 Jacob Whetton | 16 Matt Gohdes |
| 17 Aran Zalewski | 19 Tim Deavin |
| 20 Matthew Swann | 24 Tyler Lovell |
| 27 Kieran Gover | 30 Andrew Charter |
| 31 Fergus Kavanagh | 32 Jeremy Hayward |
Staff
Head Coach – Ric Charlesworth
Assistant Coach – Paul Gaudoin
Team Manager – Martin Ferrari
Stand-in Manager – Graham Reid
Team Doctor – Gary Claydon
Physiotherapist – Ellen Hawes
Women
It has been some time since the Hockeyroos were the dominant force in world hockey, but the momentum that the current group is gathering under coach Adam Commens suggests that they should be considered as championship contenders at the Rabobank Hockey World Cup.
Following a fifth place finish at the London 2012 Olympic Games, Australia’s young guns have hit some seriously impressive form. Early signs of progress were seen when the team claimed the FIH Champions Challenge 1 tournament in September 2012, a success which was quickly followed in 2013 by first place finishes at the Hockey World League Semi-Final (London) and Oceania Cup continental championship before claiming a stunning Silver medal at the Argentina Hockey World League Final in San Miguel de Tucumán.
The majority of the squad that competed in Tucumán have gained World Cup selection, including star players Casey Eastham, Madonna Blyth and Anna Flanagan, the 2012 FIH Young Player of the Year. Sadly though, the group will be without experienced defender Teneal Attard who misses the event due to a stress reaction injury in her lower leg. Australia’s last World Cup success came on Dutch soil at the 1998 event in Utrecht. Can they repeat the trick in The Hague?
Best World Cup results:
The women won gold in 1994 (Dublin) and 1998 (Utrecht).They’ve taken part in 9 previous World Cups.
FIH World Ranking:
4th
Team
| 2 Georgia Nanscawen | 4 Casey Eastham |
| 5 Ashlee Wells | 6 Kirstin Dwyer |
| 7 Jodie Kenny | 8 Ashleigh Nelson |
| 9 Anna Flanagan | 11 Karri McMahon |
| 12 Madonna Blyth | 13 Edwina Bone |
| 16 Kellie White | 17 Emily Hurtz |
| 18 Jane Claxton | 19 Georgie Parker |
| 21 Jayde Taylor | 22 Kate Jenner |
| 26 Emily Smith | 27 Rachael Lynch |
Staff
Head Coach – Adam Commens
Assistant Coach – Jasson Duff
Stand-in Manager – Kate Starre
Team Doctor – Gary Claydon
Physiotherapist – Jennifer Cooke