Kookaburra Hammond retires

Kookaburras midfielder Rob Hammond has called time on his 256-game international hockey career.

Kookaburras midfielder Rob Hammond has called time on his 256-game international hockey career. (AAP)

The Kookaburras have lost one of their all-time greats with the immediate retirement of midfielder Rob Hammond.

The 33-year-old from Townsville in North Queensland has called time on his career following Australia's win in the World Cup final earlier this week.

Since his international debut in 2001, Hammond made 256 appearances for his country, won an Olympic gold medal in Athens in 2004, bronze in Beijing four years later, two Commonwealth gold medals and two World Cup titles.

He retires as one of only seven Kookaburras players to have made more than 250 appearances.

"Following the London Olympics, I chose to commit to team success at the 2014 World Cup and this has been my primary driver over the past two years," Hammond said.

"Having won so emphatically last Sunday in The Hague I can now retire proud of our team success and of my own individual career."

His departure comes just one day after highly regarded Australian men's coach Ric Charlesworth stepped down.