Dropbears to Attend 2023 IQA World Cup

Five years after their last World Cup appearance, which saw them miss a spot in the semi-finals after a nail-biting match against long-time opponents, the United States National Team, the Australian Dropbears are travelling to Richmond, Virgina for a chance to reclaim their gold medal glory.

The Australian National Quadball Team has always been one of the teams to watch in the international quadball scene. With players whose names are known around the world, team chants that can be heard across fields and an energy that is at once intimidating and infectious, the Australian Dropbears are heading to the US this July and will not be settling for anything less than the best.

Some brief context: Australia has been an active member of international quadball since the sport first developed here in 2011. Attending the 2012 Summer Games, held in Oxford, England, Australia solidified itself within the ranks of the elite, securing third place at their first international event. Two years later, at the 2014 Global Games, Australia made sure no one would ever doubt their skill by moving up the ranks and bringing home silver against world champions, the US National Team. And if that wasn’t enough, the Dropbears set out to make history at the 2016 World Cup. In one of the greatest grand finals in quadball history, Australia defeated the US - the first time ever that the US had lost an international game. Riding that high, the Dropbears ventured to Italy for the 2018 World Cup and, as a result of scheduling, faced the US in the quarter finals. The US won and ultimately placed first overall, while the Dropbears claimed 5th place.

The COVID-19 pandemic saw the 2020 World Cup postponed, depriving the Dropbears of a chance to regain their title but the silver lining was an invitation to attend the 2022 European Games, held in Limerick, Ireland. With a team nearly entirely comprised of players with zero international experience and mere months to prepare, the Dropbears brought their A-Game to Europe and brought back the bronze for their efforts. Now, five years after their last World Cup appearance and hot off the heels of their European Games success, the Dropbears have never been better positioned to reclaim their gold medal glory.

The current squad is comprised of 25 players (see names below), with Head Coach, Luke Derrick, at the helm. Derrick himself has attended every World Cup since 2012 and was a player during the 2022 European Games campaign. Alongside Derrick are Assistant Coaches Stephen Butler, Marion Head, Emily McKie and Simon Spann, and Managers Matt Blissenden and Chelsea Markot - each of whom boasts their own impressive resume of quadball and/or coaching experience.

We are very confident that the Dropbears will not only do us but also themselves proud. The 2023 World Cup will be held in Richmond, Virgina on 15-16 July, and you can keep up-to-date with all things Dropbears here on the website, over on our Facebook page or on the IQA’s website. Without further ado, we present to you the 2023 Australian Dropbears!

Ashan Abey
Ava McConnell
Brandon Frison
Callum Mayling
Cameron Walker
Caroline Crawford
Edward Vienet
Hannah Walravens
Harrison Jones
Jakob Sutherland
Jessica Lindley
Joe Dodd
Joshua Lindley
Kaysanne Hockey
Luke Derrick
Madeleine Bell
Max Brenner
Natalie Astalosh
Nathan Morton
Nicki Redman
Nicola Gertler
Olivia Coleman
Ruth Creffield
Samantha Chittenden
Simon Spann