St Benedict’s head of rowing elected president of SASRU
Darryn Roff was elected president of the South African Schools Rowing Union.
St Benedict’s College announced that Darryn Roff, its head of rowing, was elected president of the South African Schools’ Rowing Union (SASRU).
The appointment is another milestone in Roff’s rowing career in rowing, which spans nearly three decades.
Roff takes over from Andre Oosthuysen, who was at the helm for 14 years.
Roff’s rowing journey began in 1997 as a U14 rower at St Benedict’s College.
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The school said his passion for the sport culminated in winning the first eight at the 2003 SASRU Championships.
Following his time as a student-athlete, he dedicated his career to developing rowing talent at various levels.
Commenting on his appointment, Roff said, “I am honoured to take on this role and hope to contribute to developing school rowing throughout SA. Uniting the provinces will strengthen the sport and create more opportunities for young rowers.
“My goal is to break down barriers to participation and develop sustainable programmes for rowing schools and junior clubs,” he said.
“If we remove obstacles for our youth, in and outside the school setting, SASRU can become a pivotal driver of transformation and development in SA rowing.”
His leadership credentials include being chairperson of the Gauteng Schools Rowing Federation for eight years (2018-2025) and vice chairperson for two.
His national coaching experience is equally notable. He was appointed the national rowing coach for the World Championships in 2011, 2022, 2023 and 2024.
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Most recently, Roff has served as the U19 team manager
Under his leadership, St Benedict’s has maintained its position as SA’s top boys’ rowing school for 31 consecutive years, a testament to his coaching philosophy, emphasising hard work, scientific training methods and dedication.
Dave Jeffrey, the college head, said, “Darryn’s election reflects his exceptional contribution to rowing in SA.
His expertise has been instrumental in our rowing success, and we are confident he’ll bring the same dedication and vision to his new role.”
