Hockey Australia announces new Chairs of Selection ahead of Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games

Hockey Australia has today announced the new independent selectors, who will Chair the selection panels, for the women’s and men’s national hockey teams, the Hockeyroos and Kookaburras, ahead of the 2026 World Cup and the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

Appointed by the Hockey Australia Board High-Performance Committee, former Hockeyroo Bianca Langham-Pritchard and former Kookaburra Aaron Hopkins will Chair the Hockeyroos’ and Kookaburras’ selection panels.

The selection process for hockey’s national women’s and men’s teams is governed by the HA National Selection Policy. This document defines the composition of the selection panels for the two national team programs as a four-person panel, including an Independent chair, the respective Head Coach, and two Assistant Coaches.

After a distinguished international hockey career that saw her amass 136 caps, captain Australia and win the 1998 World Cup, Hockeyroo #363 Langham-Pritchard will Chair the Hockeyroos’ selection panel, which also consists of women’s Head Coach Katrina Powell and Assistant Coaches Rhett Halkett and Darran Bisley.  

Kookaburra #338 Hopkins will lead men’s Head Coach Mark Hager and Assistant Coaches Rob Hammond and Bevan George, completing an esteemed lineup of Kookaburras greats on the Men’s National selection panel. Hopkins retired from the game in 2008 as a two-time World Cup silver medallist, and a two-time Commonwealth Games champion, with 165 caps to his name.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Aaron and Bianca as the new Independent Chairs of our Selection Panels for the Kookaburras and the Hockeyroos,” Hockey Australia President Ross Sudano said.

“Their professionalism and leadership, deep understanding of the game, our teams’ rich legacy and sound understanding of the importance of selection brings valuable rigour and oversight to our selection processes and our programs as they continue to build to the 2026 World Cup and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.”

“It’s exciting to be given this opportunity and it means a lot to me to be involved in this way,” Hopkins said.“Ever since I finished playing I’ve been involved in different ways, through the Player Pathway and, until early this year, the High Performance Committee for Hockey Australia, so to now be able to contribute back to the Kookaburras and the hockey program in Australia is something I’m incredibly passionate about.

“I’ve been there and I’ve felt the highs and lows of selection and I understand the importance and the value that needs to be placed on this role.”

“It’s an honour to be appointed as an Independent Selector and Chair of the Selection Panel,” Langham-Pritchard said.

“I understand the complexities of selection and the value of having a transparent, passionate, and fair process. Having been in the players’ shoes, I bring honesty, fresh perspective, and a deep respect for the journey they’re on.

“I’m thrilled to be asked to contribute, in such an important way to the journey toward a podium finish in Los Angeles.”

Hopkins replaces outgoing Independent Selector and former Kookaburra, Daniel Sproule, who oversaw the national men’s selection panel for the last 10 years, while Langham-Pritchard replaces former Hockeyroo, Rechelle Hawkes who led the women’s selection panel for the last three years before stepping down at the end of the cycle.

Both Chairs have been appointed for a four year term, through to post the LA Olympic Games after which the positions are reviewed. Following a review by the HPC of the position description, a Chair can now serve a maximum of two Olympic cycles.

“I would like to thank Daniel Sproule and Rechelle Hawkes for their dedication and strong, collaborative, data-driven selection decisions, during their tenure as they helped our teams continue their rich legacy in Australian sport,” Ross added.