Committing for another couple of years was too much for Black Sticks skipper Dean Couzins who has retired from international hockey.
The 33-year-old defender announced his retirement from the sport after the bronze-medal playoff defeat to England at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow yesterday.
Couzins made his first national side while living in Dunedin studying physical education at the University of Otago.
He amassed a massive 318 test caps for New Zealand since making his debut in 2001.
He spent two years in Dunedin before moving out of the city for further hockey opportunities.
He is the second-most-capped hockey player in New Zealand, behind Phil Burrows, who has 326 caps.
Although Couzins had suggested that perhaps the Commonwealth Games would be his last tournament, he only officially announced it to the team following the side's bronze-medal game against England.
The Auckland defender has been the rock of the Black Sticks defence for 13 years and coach Colin Batch said his experience and leadership would be missed by the team.
Couzins was known for his intelligent, skilful play and determination when it came to leading his side both on and off the field.
As the build-up to the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics continues, and with the qualification tournament only nine months away, Couzins felt he could not commit to another Olympic cycle and it was a good time now to stand down and let others take over.
Couzins played in three Olympic Games and four Commonwealth Games.