Hockeyroos
The Australia women's national field hockey team (nicknamed the Hockeyroos) are, as of January 2019, ranked third in the world. Having played their first game in 1914, and their first Olympic game in 1984, they are one of Australia's most succes ...
and has had 87 caps for the team. She was selected to represent Australia at the
2012 Summer Olympics
The 2012 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the XXX Olympiad and also known as London 2012) was an international multi-sport event held from 27 July to 12 August 2012 in London, England, United Kingdom. The first event, the ...
.
Personal
Close, nicknamed Ruby, was born on 18 October 1987 in Wagga Wagga. She is from Penrith, New South Wales. She lives in Perth, Western Australia because the national team trains there. When not training with them, she stays at home with family in Penrith. She was a ball girl at the
2000 Summer Olympics
The 2000 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the XXVII Olympiad and also known as Sydney 2000 (Dharug: ''Gadigal 2000''), the Millennium Olympic Games or the Games of the New Millennium, was an international multi-sport event held from 1 ...
during the Hockeyroos' gold medal match.
Field hockey
Close is a striker, who started playing the sport because her sister's team needed an extra player. She plays for the
NSW Arrows
The New South Wales Arrows are a nationally competing field hockey team based in Sydney, Australia.
Their most recent Australian Hockey League title win was in 2014. In 2015, NSW beat the ACT in the bronze medal playoff, securing 3rd place i ...
, wearing jersey number 4. Her hockey sponsors include Mazon (Just Hockey) and Lawrence & Hanson.
National team
Close made her national team debut at the European Tour 2010. When the Hockeyroos got new coach
Adam Commens
Adam David Commens (born 6 May 1976) is the brother of Scott Commens, is an Australian field hockey coach and former player. He was born in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales.
Commens was nicknamed ''Billy'' by his teammates, and earned ...
in , she was one of four players identified to aid in developing the national side. , she had 87 caps with the Australia women's national field hockey team.
In June 2012, Close played in the Investec London Cup. She played in Australia's 1–4 loss to the Netherlands.
Close was named to the Australia women's national field hockey squad that will compete at the 2012 Summer Olympics, making her debut as a twenty-four-year-old. In preparation for the Games, she participated in a four-week Perth-based training camp in June and . She and her team-mates were scheduled to leave for the London Games on 17 July.