HOCKEY: Following the Kookaburras’ World Cup triumph in The Hague on Sunday, National Coach Ric Charlesworth has decided not to lead the Australian’s men’s hockey team at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow next month.

Charlesworth, who announced in March that he would step down from his role following the Commonwealth Games, has elected to finish his duties ahead of schedule.

He said, “Last Sunday’s World Cup final is the best full stop I could wish for in my coaching career. I believe it would be indulgent for me to go to the Commonwealth Games.

“I have thought about it a lot. The high point of my year was the World Cup. The team will be moving on and it’s my personal decision - I don’t want to be packing up and away for another three weeks.”

The now four-time World Cup winning coach will continue to work with the squad over the next four weeks prior to its departure for Glasgow on 19 July.

Cam Vale, Hockey Australia Chief Executive, said, “Ric told me of his intentions after Sunday’s final.  While I was initially disappointed, his reasoning makes sense and I accepted his decision. He has worked tirelessly towards the World Cup goal and deserves the respect of the hockey community to choose this early departure.

“There is a strong belief in our men’s high performance program that oversaw such a dominant World Cup performance and I have full confidence in the staff and athletes that we can manage an interim solution towards our very important goal of Commonwealth Games success in Glasgow.”

An announcement on the coaching structure to take the squad to the Commonwealth Games will be made in the coming days.

The Kookaburras won hockey’s World Cup on Sunday, beating the Netherlands 6-1 in a thrilling final to retain the title won in 2010.

Australia’s men’s and women’s hockey teams for the Commonwealth Games will be announced by the Australian Commonwealth Games Association on Tuesday 24 June. The Australian men – winners of all four Commonwealth Games gold medals to date - commence their campaign against Wales on 26 July.

The application process to succeed Ric Charlesworth as National Coach opened on Tuesday and will close Tuesday 8 July. The process is being overseen by a six person panel led by Cam Vale.

Hockey Australia