Aron Sherriff announces international retirement
Inaugural world number one Aron Sherriff has called time on his glittering 17-year international career with the Right at Home Australian Jackaroos.
Sherriff, 38, who was bestowed the sport’s first number one male player title at the World Bowls Series launch in June, has signalled his immediate retirement from the international arena, having amassed 429 appearances in the green and gold since his 2007 debut at a winning World Team Cup.
A Jackaroos stalwart, and one of the longest serving, Sherriff has represented Australia with distinction at four World Bowls Championships, for three golds, three silvers and two bronze medals across eight disciplines contested, and three Commonwealth Games, amongst a litany of other international campaigns at home and abroad.
Commencing on the Central Coast before relocating to the Gold Coast, Sherriff is currently of Broadbeach Bowls Club, and has spent time at Club Helensvale, Ettalong Memorial Bowling Club and Halekulani Bowling Club, where he first took up the sport at the age of 11.
A maiden World Bowls Championships’ gold medal in the men’s fours in Adelaide in 2012, and dual gold medals in the triples and fours on home Gold Coast soil in 2023 rank among many notable highlights.
In 2023, Sherriff completed a bucket list goal, securing the World Bowls Indoor Championships’ double, becoming the singles and mixed pairs titleholder.
Revered by teammates, fans and opponents alike, such was Sherriff’s dominance during a golden age for Australian Bowls, he was crowned Bowls Australia’s International Bowler of the Year for three consecutive years, 2012-2014, and on three further separate occasions in 2016, 2019 and 2023.
Sherriff said that he felt the time was right to call an end to his international career and thanked those closest to him who had contributed to his journey.
“In making this announcement, I want to single out the people who have been instrumental in helping me reach the heights of my career, in particular, I want to thank my family – Mum, Dad, Todd and Katie – and more recently, Amanda, Zoe and Connor; all have significantly helped shape my journey,” Sherriff said.
“I also want to acknowledge those who have supported me both personally and emotionally, and recognise the clubs that have contributed to my progress, especially Halekulani and George Dawes, who first taught me how to play bowls, and now Broadbeach, who I look forward to representing into the future.
“And lastly, a shoutout to all the partners and brands who have supported me and my international pursuits over the years, and especially now, in Aero Bowls, Ace sunglasses, Niagara and NeoMax.”
Bowls Australia’s Performance Director and National Coach Gary Willis said that Sherriff’s significant contribution to the Australian Jackaroos couldn’t be understated.
“Aron Sherriff has achieved the rarest of feats in the sport during a glittering and golden career donning the green and gold attire and is undoubtedly amongst the most well credentialed and renowned players to have ever graced the greens,” Willis said.
“Omar, as he is affectionately known, has left nothing out on the green and on behalf of Bowls Australia and the Right at Home Australian Jackaroos, we thank him for his significant contribution to the Jackaroos performances and Bowls in Australia over so many years.”
Bowls Australia congratulates and applauds Aron Sherriff on a scintillating international career and thanks him for his exceptional service to the Right at Home Australian Jackaroos.
Aron Sherriff
- Date of birth: October 29, 1985
- Club: Broadbeach, QLD
- Cap number: 127
- Appearances for Australia: 429
- Debut: 2007 (World Team Cup, Tweed Heads)
- Commonwealth Games medals: Bronze – Singles (2014 Glasgow), Silver – Triples, Silver – Fours (2018 Gold Coast)
- World Bowls Championships medals: Silver – Singles, Bronze – Pairs (2008 Christchurch, NZ), Gold – Fours, Silver – Pairs (2012 Adelaide), Silver – Triples, Bronze – Singles (2016 Christchurch, NZ), Gold – Triples, Gold – Fours (2023 Gold Coast)
