Hockey in Australia
AUS
FIH Rankings
The Charlesworth legacy and Australian hockey rebuilding
— CULTAustralian hockey carries the legacy of a dominant period that ran from 1988 to 2000, when the Hockeyroos won three Olympic golds (1988, 1996, 2000) and two world titles (1994, 1998) under Ric Charlesworth. Hockey Australia coordinates a programme that ranks organisationally among the most professionalised in the world, with a High Performance Centre in Perth and a centrally trained national squad. Hockey One, the national club competition, consists of seven franchises and acts as a showcase for domestic and international talent.
What systemically sets Australia apart is the combination of an Oceanian athletic tradition and European tactical depth. The Charlesworth legacy is deeply embedded: physical fitness as a foundation, task-oriented positioning and a philosophy that winning is a craft that must be repeatable. His books (The Coach, Staying at the Top) are seen as standard works internationally, and since 2023 Charlesworth has also acted as adviser to the Chinese women's team under Alyson Annan, a former Hockeyroos teammate.
The Hockeyroos have gone through a difficult period since Tokyo 2020, with quarter-final exits in both Tokyo and Paris and internal cultural issues. Head coach Katrina Powell - the first female head coach since 1978 and herself a two-time Olympic champion - stepped down in September 2025 after four and a half years. Her successor Rhett Halkett, a South African ex-international with coaching experience at the Netherlands women's team (Tokyo 2020 gold) and India men's team (Paris 2024 bronze), took over in October 2025 and is now working on a side that wants to find its way back to the podium in 2026.
Everything you want to know about hockey in Australia
— LAYERSNational Hockey Federation
website: September 2026
The latest news
- Hockey Australia is building a new Country Hockey Working Group, nominate now - Hockey Australia
- Back our stars: Bartram and Colwill nominated for FIH Hockey Stars awards 2026 - Hockey Australia
- 2026 Hockey Australia Masters Indoor Challenge - Hockey Australia
- Talent Accelerator 2032 program to fast-track Australia’s next generation towards Brisbane 2032 - Hockey Australia
- TA32 - Hockey Australia
National men's team
ranked 3 FIHAustralia is the only hockey team in the world with three world titles and fifteen Champions Trophy titles, and yet that same team travelled to the 2024 Games almost without a shirt sponsor. That is the paradoxical heart of the Kookaburras: a global powerhouse that runs on semi-amateurs, engineers and electricians, carried by a fanatical club scene in Western Australia rather than by big sponsorship deals.
After Paris that powerhouse lost three pillars in one blow: record cap-holder Eddie Ockenden, captain Aran Zalewski and goalkeeper Andrew Charter all retired together. Head coach Mark Hager has been building a new generation ever since, with a captaincy trio chosen by the players themselves. In the dossier you can read how deep that rebuild goes, why Australia is beating the world's best again despite its youth, and what the Kookaburras can do in Wavre.
National women's team
ranked 9 FIHThe Hockeyroos are working with new head coach Rhett Halkett, appointed in October 2025, on a restart after two disappointing Olympic editions. Halkett, a South African ex-international with international coaching experience at the Netherlands and India, is shaping a playing style that, in his own words, must be 'difficult to beat and exciting to watch'. Captain Jocelyn Bartram, goalkeeper Aleisha Power and forward Rosie Malone are core figures of the current squad.
What sets Australia apart is the combination of the Charlesworth legacy and a professional infrastructure that competes with the Netherlands and Germany. At the 2026 World Cup the Hockeyroos play in Pool A in Amstelveen against host Netherlands, Japan and Chile. A place in the knockout phase is the minimum; a podium finish under Halkett would be a direct statement of recovery.
National club competition
website: September 2026
Reigning national champion: Perth Thundersticks (2025)
Standings coming
FIH certified hockey fields
29 certified (3 expired)Category 2
4 certified (2 expired)Fields for international and top-level national competitions.
- Annandale Park, AnnandaleGreenfieldsGreenfields TX SD s EL15Valid until: Apr 1, 2027
- Bunbury Hockey Stadium P2, BunburyPolytanPoligras Paris GT 11-43 EL 10Valid until: Apr 10, 2028
- Hockey Tasmania Pitch 1, New TownPolytanPoligras Paris GT 11-43 EL 10Valid until: May 29, 2027
- The Gables Field 1, SydneyPolytanPoligras Platinum GT 11-42 EL 10Valid until: Oct 24, 2027
- Sydney Olympic Park Pitch 1, SydneyexpiredPolytanPoligras Platinum CoolPlus 11-42 EL10Expired: Aug 15, 2026
- Sydney Olympic Park Pitch 2, SydneyexpiredPolytanPoligras Platinum CoolPlus 11-42 EL10Expired: Aug 14, 2026
Category 3
22 certifiedFields for lower-level national, regional and club play.
- Ballarat Hockey, BallaratCCGrassFastPro HF18 EL15Valid until: Dec 4, 2027
- Cairns Hockey Pitch 1, CairnsPolytanPoligras Paris GT 11-43 EL 10Valid until: Jan 22, 2028
- Canberra Girls Grammar School, CanberraPolytanPoligras Platinum GT 11-42 EL 10Valid until: May 22, 2028Built by Polytan
- Kingston Heath Hockey (Southern United Hockey Club), CheltenhamPolytanPoligras H2OZ GT 18-28 EL 12Valid until: Dec 11, 2027
- Dayton 1, City of SwanPolytanPoligras H2OZ GT 18-28 EL 12Valid until: Jan 23, 2027
- Dayton 2, City of SwanPolytanPoligras H2OZ GT 18-28 EL 12Valid until: Jan 23, 2027
- Monash University Hockey (Clayton Campus), ClaytonPolytanPoligras H2OZ GT 18-28 EL 12Valid until: Dec 10, 2027
- Coffs Harbour Hockey Club, Coffs HarbourPolytanPoligras Paris GT 11-43 EL 10Valid until: Oct 2, 2028
- Marrara Hockey Stadium, DarwinPolytanPoligras Platinum CoolPlusValid until: Dec 10, 2026
- Bankstown Hockey Club, Georges HallPolytanPoligras Platinum GT 11-42 EL 10Valid until: Mar 5, 2029
- Orange Hockey Centre, GlenroiPolytanPoligras Paris GT 11-43 EL 10Valid until: Aug 5, 2028
- Peel Hockey Stadium, Halls HeadPolytanPoligras Platinum GT 11-42 EL 10Valid until: Mar 23, 2029
- Knox Hockey Club, MelbourneCCGrassFastPro HF18 EL15Valid until: Apr 10, 2027
- Knox Hockey Club, MelbourneCCGrassFastPro HF18 EL15Valid until: Sep 28, 2026
- Molong Hockey Field, MolongPolytanPoligras H2OZ GT 18-28 EL 12Valid until: Mar 17, 2029
- Elgar Park Hockey, Mont Albert NorthPolytanPoligras H2OZ CoolPlus 18/28 EL12 RWValid until: Oct 15, 2028
- UWA Sports Park - Pitch 1, Mount ClaremontPolytanPoligras Platinum GT 11-42 EL 10Valid until: Jan 22, 2027
- UWA Sports Park - Pitch 2, Mount ClaremontPolytanPoligras Platinum GT 11-42 EL 10Valid until: Apr 11, 2028
- Somerset College, MudgeerabaPolytanPoligras H2OZ GT 18-28 EL 12Valid until: Apr 11, 2027
- Ku ring gai Hockey Centre, North TurramurraPolytanPoligras H2OZ GT 18-28 EL 12Valid until: Jan 29, 2027
- The Gables Field 2, SydneyPolytanPoligras H2OZ GT 18-28 EL 12Valid until: Oct 24, 2027
- Warrnambool Hockey, WarrnamboolPolytanPoligrasValid until: Feb 20, 2027
Category 4
2 certifiedHockey turf with line markings so other sports can also be played.
- The University of Newcastle Callaghan Campus Hockey Oval, CallaghanGreenfieldsGreenfields TX SD S EL15Valid until: Mar 3, 2029
- St Josephs College, Ferntree GullyCCGrassFastPro HF18 + In-situ 15mmValid until: Feb 2, 2027
Category 5
0 certified (1 expired)Surfaces mainly intended for football that also allow basic development hockey.
- Sport-Campus Weinzödl, GrazexpiredEdel GrassEdel Soccer Flashblade 40/15 E15-SExpired: Sep 12, 2026
Dry Turf field
1 certifiedFields with enhanced playing qualities without water, used for national and local competitions.
- Banyul Warri Fields Hockey, TorquayPolytanPoligras Platinum World Cup GT 11-40 MB EL 10Valid until: Dec 9, 2028
Coaches
Coming soon
Referees
Coming soon
Australia hockey teams at the FIH WC 2026
— WK26Amstelveen, Nederland
Standings
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NED | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 2 | +13 | 9 |
| 2 | AUS | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 4 |
| 3 | JPN | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 11 | -8 | 3 |
| 4 | CHI | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 9 | -5 | 1 |
Australia finished 2nd in Pool A and play in Pool E in phase 2. Their new opponents come from Pool D: China (1st) and India (2nd). Pool rival Netherlands (1st in Pool A) is also in Pool E; that match was already played in phase 1. Pool E competes for places 1 to 8, with the top two reaching the semifinals.
Standings
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NED | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 3 | +7 | 9 |
| 2 | AUS | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 5 | -2 | 2 |
| 3 | IND | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | -2 | 2 |
| 4 | CHN | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 7 | -3 | 2 |
Knockout phase
Wavre, België
Standings
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AUS | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 3 | +3 | 7 |
| 2 | ESP | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 3 | +3 | 6 |
| 3 | IRL | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 7 | -1 | 3 |
| 4 | RSA | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 9 | -5 | 1 |
Australia finished 1st in Pool C and play in Pool F in phase 2. Their new opponents come from Pool B: Germany (1st) and Belgium (2nd). Pool rival Spain (2nd in Pool C) is also in Pool F; that match was already played in phase 1. Pool F competes for places 1 to 8, with the top two reaching the semifinals.
Standings
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GER | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 4 | +2 | 6 |
| 2 | ESP | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 4 |
| 3 | AUS | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | -1 | 4 |
| 4 | BEL | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -1 | 2 |
Knockout phase
Historical highlights Australia
— HIST1927
FIH membership
Australia joins the International Hockey Federation.
1988
Olympic gold (women) - Seoul
First Olympic gold for the Hockeyroos.
1994
World Cup gold (women) - Dublin
First world title under Ric Charlesworth.
1996
Olympic gold (women) - Atlanta
Second consecutive Olympic title.
2000
Olympic gold (women) - Sydney
Third gold in a row, on home soil.
2025
Rhett Halkett becomes head coach
South African with Dutch and Indian experience takes the helm.
2026
World Cup 2026
Women: 4th place. Lost the bronze-medal match to Belgium. Men: 5th place.