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Team Australia
A golden snitch on a background of a green shield with four white seven-pointed and one smaller white five-pointed star arranged in the shape of the Southern Cross
Full nameAustralian National Quadball Team
NicknameTeam Australia

Dropbears (World Cup)

Aurora Australis (Nations Cup)
SportQuidditch/Quadball
Founded2011
AssociationQuadball Australia
ColoursGreen and Gold
   
AnthemThunderstruck
Head coachTom Russell
ManagerLiz Schultz
Championships2016
Websitequidditchaustralia.org

The Australian national quadball team, known as the Dropbears, is the representative national team in the sport of quadball for Australia. The team made history in 2016 when it won the 2016 IQA World Cup,[1] becoming the first, and currently only, non-United States Quidditch World Champions.

Australia made its international debut in 2012 at the IQA Summer Games in Oxford, UK,[2] and is one of only 4 countries to have competed in all 5 IQA World Cups.[3][4] To date, the Dropbears are the only team to ever beat the United States at an international level.[5][6]

The team is regulated by Quadball Australia and is a national member of the International Quadball Association.[7][8]

History

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The national team, known at the time as the 'Australian Olympic Quidditch Team', made its debut in 2012 at the International Quidditch Association Summer Games in Oxford, England. Scheduled to coincide with the 2012 Summer Olympics, the tournament later became the first iteration of the IQA Quidditch World Cup.[9] Australia placed third of the five teams competing.[10]

The first official National Squad was formed in the lead up to what would eventually become the second IQA World Cup, with the Dropbears making their official international debut at the 2014 Global Games in Burnaby, Canada, finishing second after losing to the United States in the final.[11]

The third international quidditch world cup was held in 2016 in Frankfurt, Germany where a repeat of 2014 saw Australia and the United States once again face off in the final. After a long and tightly contested match, the Dropbears claimed Gold with a snitch catch, defeating the United States 150*-130[a].[5] This historic win took the international quidditch community by storm, being a significant upset against Team USA who were previously undefeated in the entire history of the sport.[12][13] This match remains the first and only time that the US team has been beaten at an international level.[citation needed]

The 2016 World Champion Dropbears squad was coached by Gen Gibson,[14] and captained by James Mortenson.[15]

The Dropbears finished 5th at the 2018 World Cup, after being defeated by the United States (the eventual winners) in the quarterfinals. The fifth IQA World Cup was scheduled to take place in 2020 in Richmond, United States, but was delayed to 2021 and then again to 2023 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Australia was subsequently invited to attend the 2022 European Games, an international tournament hosted in the off-years between the World Cup, where they came third.[16] This was seen as controversial by some due to the fact that the European Games are designed for teams based in Europe and since Australia has a strong international record they therefore went into the tournament as a favourite despite never competing in it before.[17] However, the IQA defended allowing both Australia and Hong Kong to compete due to the lack of an equivalent continental games tournament in their region.[18]

The fifth world cup took place in July 2023 in Richmond, United States, where Australia finished 7th after being defeated by Belgium (the eventual bronze medalists) in the quarterfinals.[19]

In 2024, the Australian development team, known as "Aurora Australis",[20] participated in the Quadball Nations Cup, an international-level elite tournament designed for development teams and emerging players.[21] The tournament took place from 5 - 6 October in Salou, Spain, where Australia finished 6th overall after being knocked out in the quarterfinals by Team World.[22]

Competitive record

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IQA World Cup

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Main article: IQA World Cup
Competition Position
United Kingdom 2012 Summer Games 3rd of 5[23]
Canada 2014 Global Games 2nd of 7[24]
Germany 2016 World Cup 1st of 21[5]
Italy 2018 World Cup 5th of 29[25]
United States 2023 World Cup † 7th of 15[19]

† The 2020 World Cup was initially postponed to 2021 due to COVID-19,[26] and later further postponed to 2023.[27]

European Games

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Main article: European Games (quidditch)
Competition Position
Republic of Ireland 2022 European Games 3rd of 20[16]

Nations Cup

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Competition Position
Spain 2024 Nations Cup 6th of 20[22]

Australia participated as "Aurora Australis", their official development team.


Australian National Squad

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As of June, 2024, the current standing national squad consists of 44 members.[28]

The 2025 World Cup team will be selected from among the National Squad.

International Squad Lists

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Quadball Nations Cup 2024 (Salou, Spain)

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The squad for the 2024 Nations Cup was coached by Tom Russell[29] and captained by Rajtilak Kapoor and Ava McConnell.[30][31] QNC rules limit the number of players a team can name who competed at for any country at the most recent IQA World Cup.[32]

Player Number Notes
Rajtilak Kapoor (Co-Captain) 7
Ava McConnell (Co-Captain) 15
Ashan Abey (withdrew) n/a Also named as an Assistant Coach
Giacomo Agbugba 3
Arabella Barr 99
Brendan Briscoe-Hough 16
Zale Briscoe-Hough 57
Kelsey Collins 89
Alex Cunningham 42
Jack Emerton-Bain 29
Cooper Fitzgerald 4
Vicki Hunynh 22
Chloe Kneebone 39
Xavier Luna 18
Maddi Moulton 23
Kimberley Parry 86
Chris Peak 28
Caitlin Rapson 27
Nicki Redman (withdrew) n/a Injured prior to tournament
Liz Schultz 94
Aaron Sibel 35
Eloise Taylor 11
Phil Vankerkoerle 34
Charlotte Wen 8

IQA World Cup 2023 (Richmond, United States)

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The squad for the 2023 World Cup was captained by Samantha Chittenden[33] and coached by Luke Derrick.[34][35]

Surname First Name
Chittenden Samantha (Captain)
Morton Nathan (Vice-Captain)
Astalosh Natalie
Bell Madeleine
Brenner Max
Coleman Olivia
Crawford Caroline
Creffield Ruth
Derrick Luke
Frison Brandon
Hockey Kaysanne
Jones Harrison
Lindley Jessica
Lindley Joshua
Mayling Callum
Redman Nicki
Spann Simon
Sutherland Jacob
Walker Cameron
Walravens Hannah
Vinet Edward
Reserves
Ashan Abey (replaced Baldeep Uppal, named as a reserve)
Joe Dodd (replaced Gary Hague, named as a reserve)
Nicola Gertler
Ava McConnell (replaced Kaitlin Taylor, named as a reserve)
Gary Hague (named in initial squad, pulled out prior to final team selection)
Kaitlin Taylor (named in initial squad, pulled out prior to final team selection)
Baldeep Uppal (named in initial squad, pulled out prior to final team selection)

IQA European Games 2022 (Limerick, Ireland)

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The squad for the 2022 European Games was captained by Samantha Chittenden[36] and coached by Nicola Gertler, Tim Scott, and Kim Govier.[37][38]

Surname First Name
Chittenden Samantha (Captain)
Morton Nathan (Vice-Captain)
Abey Ajantha
Bell Madeleine
Brenner Max
Collins Kelsey
Derrick Luke
Gertler Nicola
Hague Gary
Hockey Karysanne
Huang Harry
Jones Harrison
Lindley Joshua
Mannering Michelle
Mayling Callum
Morton Nathan
Rennie Isobel
Sutherland Jacob
Taylor Kaitlin
Walker Cameron
Walravens Hannah
Vinet Edward
Reserves
Baldeep Uppal
Caroline Crawford
Matt Tingle
Sanju Valrav

IQA World Cup 2018 (Florence, Italy)

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The squad for the 2018 World Cup was captained by Callum Mayling and coached by Gen Gibson and Daniel Fox.[39][40][41]

Surname First Name
Mayling Callum (Captain)
Andrew Arlyta
Astalosh Natalie
Culf Andrew
Derrick Luke
Frison Brandon
Kemister Neil
Menkhorst Cassia
Merry Emily
Morton Nathan
Newton Miles
O'Brien Jonathon
Osborn Dameon
Osmond James
Rawson Taya
Rodhouse Dean
Round Clementine
Spann Simon
Tasman Deni
van Kaathoven Nikita
Williams James
Reserves
Samantha Chittenden
Anthony Hogen
James Hyder
Harrison Jones
Rajtilak Kapoor
Stella Naylor
Isobel Rennie
Edward Vinet

IQA World Cup 2016 (Frankfurt, Germany)

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The squad for the 2016 World Cup was captained by James Mortensen and coached by Gen Gibson.[15][42]

Surname First Name
Mortensen James (Captain)
Allen Nicholas
Astalosh Natalie
Culf Andrew
Derrick Luke
Fox Leslie (replaced Tash Keehan)
Growse Jarrod
Keehan Tash (named, withdrew due to injury)
Hyder James
Kemister Neil
Lee Shu Ying
Mayling Callum
Menkhorst Cassia
Monty Hannah
Morton Nathan
Osborn Dameon
Osmond James
Rawson Taya
Sneddon Miles
Tasman Deni
Thomas Caitlin
Williams James
Reserves
Samantha Chittenden
Oscar Cozens
Nicola Gertler
Carolyn Themel

IQA Global Games 2014 (Burnaby, Canada)

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The squad for the 2014 World Cup was captained by James Hyder.[43]

Surname First Name Number
Hyder James 64 (Captain)
Bell Dom 6
Berkowicz Emmanuel 3
Brown Cameron 8
Culf Andrew 23
Derrick Luke 21
Diep Minh 9
Gordon Rhiannon 88
Hunter Katherine 1
Ingold-Dawes Corey 2
Kapoor Rajtilak 712
Monty Hannah 10
Morton Nathan 17
Osborn Dameon 47
Osmond James 15
Papadam Arfy 22
Parker Alli 4
Rawson Taya 62
Stubberfield Katelyn 13
Williams James 32
Young Shane 7

IQA Summer Games 2012 (Oxford, England)

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The squad for the 2012 IQA Summer Games was captained by Katherine Hunter.[10]

Surname First Name
Hunter Katherine (Captain)
Armstrong Matt
Baum Josh
Butera Michael
Crane Beth
Filippellp Katie
Tucknott Robbie
Washington Sam

Note: This list is incomplete.

Most Caps

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Caps Player Span
6 Luke Derrick 2014 - 2023
Nathan Morton 2014 - Present
5 Callum Mayling 2016 - 2023
4 Samantha Chittenden* 2018 - Present
3 Natalie Astalosh 2016 - 2023
Andrew Culf 2014 - 2018
James Hyder* 2014 - 2018
Harrison Jones* 2018 - Present
Rajtilak Kapoor*^ 2014 - Present
Dameon Osborn 2014 - 2018
James Osmond 2014 - 2018
Taya Rawson 2014 - 2018
Edward Vinet* 2018 - 2023
James Williams 2014 - 2018

*includes one or more appearances as a reserve

^includes one or more appearances as part of Aurora Australis

Notes

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  1. ^ In real-life quidditch, aka quadball, a snitch catch is worth 30 points and is noted on the score by an asterisk (*).


See also

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References

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  1. ^ Sivasubramanian, Shami (25 July 2016). "Australia makes history by winning the 2016 Quidditch World Cup". SBS. Archived from the original on 30 July 2016. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
  2. ^ "Dropbears". quidditch.org.au. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  3. ^ "Australian Dropbears". quidditchaustralia.org. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  4. ^ Brown, Simon Leo (31 July 2014). "Harry Potter sport quidditch gains fans as Australia returns from Global Games with silver medal". ABC News.
  5. ^ a b c "Australia's Dropbears win Quidditch World Cup, inspired by Harry Potter game". ABC News. 25 July 2016.
  6. ^ Seed, Daniel (17 November 2016). "Australia's Dropbears win Quidditch World Cup". Stringer Press. Archived from the original on 17 November 2016.
  7. ^ "Global Games Team Australia Announced | US Quidditch". usquidditch.org. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
  8. ^ James, Anna (15 July 2016). "The Day I Played Quidditch With Muggles Was Magic". The Huffington Post. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017.
  9. ^ Black, Alan. "London 2012: Olympic Quidditch Expo Tournament Preview". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  10. ^ a b "Australia takes bronze at the IQA Summer Games". Australian Quidditch Association. 15 July 2012. Archived from the original on 27 July 2012. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  11. ^ Marmer, Andy (20 July 2014). "Team USA Secure Gold in Shutout Against Australia". US Quidditch. Archived from the original on 20 July 2014. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
  12. ^ Lehmann, Danielle; Donnelly, Bruce (20 July 2016). "World Cup 2016: Spotlight on the United States". The Quidditch Post. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  13. ^ Marmer, Andy (24 July 2016). "The World Turned Upside Down". The Quidditch Post. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  14. ^ Cain, Sian (25 July 2016). "Australian Dropbears defeat US team to win Quidditch World Cup". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
  15. ^ a b Hirst, Nicholas (22 February 2016). "Australian Dropbears Team Announcement". Quidditch Australia. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  16. ^ a b "Australian Quidditch team wins bronze at European championship". ABCNews. 26 July 2022. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  17. ^ Kohoutová, Veronika (10 August 2022). "England Wins the Last International Quidditch Tournament". MuggleNet. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  18. ^ Kohoutová, Veronika (28 June 2022). "Australia and Hong Kong Will Participate in the IQA European Games". MuggleNet. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  19. ^ a b "The US National Team takes home the trophy at IQA World Cup 2023". International Quadball Association. 21 July 2023.
  20. ^ Quadball Australia (13 July 2024). "We're excited to announce that the squad going to the Nations Cup..." Facebook. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  21. ^ "Home". Quadball Nations Cup. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  22. ^ a b "2024 Rankings". Quadball Nations Cup. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  23. ^ McGill Reporter Staff (10 July 2012). "Students represent Canada at Quidditch Summer Games". McGill Reporter. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  24. ^ "Team USA Secures Gold in Shutout Against Australia US Quidditch". 20 July 2014. Archived from the original on 20 July 2014.
  25. ^ Caccamo, Cameron (2 July 2018). "Australia Places Fifth at Quidditch World Cup". Quidditch Australia. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
  26. ^ "IQA World Cup 2020 postponed to 2021". International Quidditch Association. 15 April 2020. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  27. ^ "IQA World Cup and IQA BIPOC Committee Findings". International Quidditch Association. 12 July 2021. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  28. ^ Quadball Australia (14 June 2024). "Announcing our 2024 Nations Cup Squad!". Facebook. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  29. ^ Quadball Australia (14 May 2024). "Quadball Australia community, We are excited to announce..." Facebook. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  30. ^ Quadball Austraia (2 October 2024). "Announcing Auroras Captains for 2024: Rajtilak and Ava". Facebook. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
  31. ^ "QNC 2024: Teams (Australia)". quadball.live. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
  32. ^ "Eligibility". Quadball Nations Cup. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  33. ^ Quidditch Australia (7 July 2023). "Meet the 2023 Australian Dropbears Captain and Vice Captain!". Facebook. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  34. ^ "Dropbears to Attend 2023 IQA World Cup". Quadball Australia. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
  35. ^ Quidditch Australia (2 May 2023). "The Australian Dropbears are pleased to welcome to the team Ashan Abey, Ava McConnell and Joe Dodd!". Facebook. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  36. ^ Quidditch Australia (20 July 2022). "Meet the 2022 Dropbears Captain and Vice Captain!". Facebook. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  37. ^ Quidditch Australia (19 March 2022). "The Quidditch Australia board is pleased to announce the management staff for the Australian Dropbears..." Facebook. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  38. ^ Quidditch Australia (6 May 2022). "Quidditch Australia is proud to announce the 2022 Dropbears Squad!". Facebook. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  39. ^ Christian, Merryn (1 February 2018). "Team Australia 2018". Quidditch Australia. Archived from the original on 18 March 2018.
  40. ^ Christian, Merryn (2 February 2018). "Team Australia 2018 Reserves". Quidditch Australia. Archived from the original on 18 March 2018.
  41. ^ Hirst, Nicholas (22 August 2017). "Team Australia Selectors". Quidditch Australia. Archived from the original on 23 March 2018.
  42. ^ Hirst, Nicholas (17 July 2016). "QAI discusses the Dropbears team with the reserves". Quidditch Australia. Archived from the original on 23 March 2018.
  43. ^ "Global Games 2014 National Teams". IQA Quidditch. IQA. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
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