A Kookaburras veteran, Govers has represented his country 121 times, scoring 58 goals in a career that saw him debut in 2010, win bronze at the London Olympics and gold at the 2014 Commonwealth Games. 

Govers last played for the Kookaburras in November 2016, shortly after he was controversially omitted from the 2016 Rio Olympics squad. A new coaching staff made sweeping changes to the setup ahead of 2017, with Govers one of the casualties. 

Despite many predicting Govers’ international career had come to an end, he continued working towards a return to the Kookaburra set up throughout 2017. He edged one step closer to attaining his goal in October when he was elevated to the National Development Squad. 

Despite being initially overlooked for the Australian men’s 2018 squad in December, the 30-year-old has spent time with the team in Perth throughout the year, knocking down the door of a national recall. 

Govers and Victoria’s Joshua Simmonds have been added to the Senior Men’s Squad following the retirement of Mark Knowles and the recent resignation of Matthew Bird. Bird withdrew from the squad after he was arrested on drugs charges. 

Govers joins fellow Wollongong products Tristan White, Flynn Ogilvie and younger brother Blake Govers in the Australian squad and will bid for a spot in Australia’s Champions Trophy team, to be announced Monday.