NSW Trio Named in Kookaburras Squad for 2026 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup

Hockey NSW congratulates Nathan Czinner, Dylan Downey and Lachlan Sharp on their selection in the 18-player Kookaburras squad for the 2026 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, to be played at the Sultan Azlan Shah Stadium in Ipoh, Malaysia, from 20 to 28 November.

The squad, named today by Hockey Australia's National Men's Selection Panel, blends World Cup experience with emerging talent, and the NSW trio reflects both.

Lachlan Sharp is one of eight members of the 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup squad returning for Ipoh, alongside co-captain Tim Howard, Nathan Ephraums and goalkeeper Jed Snowden.

Dylan Downey earned his first Kookaburras squad call-up this year and is one of five squad members from Hockey Australia's inaugural Talent Accelerator 2032 (TA32) cohort. The program gives 21 of the country's most promising young athletes individualised support on the road to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games.

Nathan Czinner completes the NSW contingent. Czinner and Downey also both play for NSW Pride in Hockey One.

The tournament

World No. 3 Australia will face Pakistan, hosts Malaysia, Canada, Korea and the USA in a six-team round robin, with the top two sides advancing to the final on Saturday 28 November. The Kookaburras open their campaign against the USA on Friday 20 November at 6:00pm AEDT.

The tournament is the Kookaburras' first international hit-out since the 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup and forms a key part of their preparation for the 2026–27 FIH Pro League season.

Queensland's Matthew Hawthorne and Victoria's Duncan Jackson are set to make their Kookaburras debuts in Ipoh. Both are TA32 athletes, a selection Hockey Australia says reflects the growing strength of the national pathway.

Australia is the most successful nation in Sultan Azlan Shah Cup history with 10 titles, the most recent in 2018.

Kookaburras fixtures (Sydney time, AEDT)

• Friday 20 November: Australia v USA, 6:00pm
• Saturday 21 November: Australia v Korea, 8:15pm
• Monday 23 November: Australia v Pakistan, 8:15pm
• Tuesday 24 November: Australia v Malaysia, 10:30pm
• Thursday 26 November: Australia v Canada, 6:00pm
• Saturday 28 November: Finals – 5th v 6th at 6:00pm; bronze medal match at 8:30pm; final at 11:00pm

Ipoh is three hours behind Sydney. Fixtures per the FIH and USA Field Hockey schedules.

Kookaburras squad – 2026 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup

NSW athletes in bold.

• Davis Atkin, ACT
• Cooper Burns, VIC
• James Collins, WA
• Nathan Czinner, NSW
• Dylan Downey, NSW
• Nathan Ephraums, VIC
• Cambell Geddes, WA
• Ian Grobbelaar, WA
• Anand Gupte, ACT
• Matthew Hawthorne, QLD
• Tim Howard, QLD
• Duncan Jackson, VIC
• Craig Marais, VIC
• Magnus McCausland, TAS
• Lachlan Rogers, TAS
• Lachlan Sharp, NSW
• Jed Snowden, VIC
• Jack Welch, TAS

Non-travelling reserves: Dylan Brick (ACT), Max Larkin (TAS), Oliver Stebbings (TAS), Thomas Wycherley (QLD)

Squad and tournament information courtesy of Hockey Australia.