Star studded Jillaroos squad announced for Canberra camp

A 23-player Jillaroos (Australia U21 Women’s) squad featuring seven capped Hockeyroos will assemble in Canberra for a training camp in late September as the 2023 FIH Women’s Junior World Cup edges closer.

Hockeyroos squad members Amy Lawton, Claire Colwill, Hannah Cullum-Sanders, Tatum Stewart and Grace Young headline the Jillaroos squad that includes Maddison Brooks and Alana Kavanagh who have also represented Australia’s national women’s hockey team this year.

The recent tri series in Brisbane against Japanese club team Coca Cola Sparks and a Hockey Queensland Invitational team provided the selectors with another opportunity to assess athletes against quality opposition.

Jillaroos Head Coach Stacia Strain said the inclusion of the Hockeyroos contingent, comprising 171 matches of international experience, was a boost as the squad enters its final months of preparation.

“To have five current Hockeyroos and two more who have debuted for the Hockeyroos this year in this group is exciting,” said Strain.

“It is testament to the depth and calibre of our female hockey talent in this age group.”

“We are really excited to have these girls involved. The experience and leadership they are going to bring, in combination with the current talent and growth we have developed within the wider Jillaroos squad, we are looking forward to seeing what they can produce together.”

With the 2023 FIH Women’s Junior World Cup starting on 29 November in Chile, the selection of the final 18-player Jillaroos World Cup team is reaching the pointy end.

While this camp provides an indication of the make-up of the World Cup team, Strain said nothing is set in stone.

“I’m not ruling out that players could come from outside this extended squad when the Junior World Cup team is selected,” said Strain.

“We’re still going to take into consideration everyone in the current national junior squad and are definitely not ruling anyone out.”

The Jillaroos camp in the nation’s capital will include some planned matches coupled with cultural and team building sessions.

“The series in Brisbane was really successful and would not have gone ahead without the support of Hockey Queensland and the National Athlete Pathway Program network,” said Strain.

“From the get-go I have focused on the most important part being about building connection…connection to country, connection to the team, connection to each other, and this camp is the final piece of the puzzle with that.”

“We will continue to build our way of play and I was adamant that we wanted the Hockeyroos players to be involved, so this camp is critical in regard to that connection piece.”

Jillaroos Canberra Training Camp
25 September - 2 October 2023
Australian Institute of Sport

Jillaroos Squad