Born: 1972 (Te Kūiti, New Zealand)
Biography:
Dame Farah Rangikoepa Palmer DNZM (born 27 November 1972) is a professor at Massey University and a former captain of New Zealand’s women’s rugby union team, the Black Ferns.
Youth and early career
Palmer was born in Te Kūiti, New Zealand, and raised in Piopio. She displayed a love for sports from an early age, participating in various athletic activities including netball, athletics, swimming, tennis, and cross-country during her primary and secondary school years. Although she had dabbled in rugby on a social level before, it was during her time as a student at Otago University, where she was studying physical education, that Palmer began playing the sport regularly. In 1992, she joined the university club and made her debut for the Otago team that same year. Throughout her time at Otago, she gradually transitioned from playing as a prop to taking on the position of hooker.
National team
Palmer made her first appearance for the New Zealand women’s rugby team on 31 August 1996, in a match against Australia in Sydney, which the team won 28–5. Her talent and leadership abilities quickly became evident, and in the following year, Palmer was appointed captain of the Black Ferns after leading them to a convincing 67–0 victory over England. In 1997, she temporarily moved to Hamilton, where she played for the Waikato University club and represented Waikato in addition to her commitments with the Otago team. However, she returned to Dunedin in 1998, joining the Alhambra Union club, and successfully led the Black Ferns to win the 1998 Women’s Rugby World Cup. Her exceptional performance earned her the title of Women’s Player of the Year by the New Zealand Rugby Union that same year.
Academic achievements
Not only was Palmer excelling on the rugby field, but she was also pursuing her academic goals. In 2000, she completed her PhD, demonstrating her dedication to both sports and education. In 2001, Palmer decided to further her career in sports management and accepted a position at Massey University in Palmerston North. She joined the Kia Toa rugby club and continued to captain the Black Ferns, leading them to their second World Championship victory in 2002.
Later career and retirement
In 2005, Palmer faced a setback when she was unable to play due to injury, marking the first match she had missed for the Black Ferns since 1996. Nonetheless, her contributions to women’s rugby were widely recognized, and she was awarded the International Women’s Personality of the Year by the International Rugby Board (IRB) that same year. Representing Manawatu, Palmer played a key role in helping the team earn promotion to the national women’s championship in 2006. She capped off her illustrious career by captaining the Black Ferns in her third World Cup and leading them to a victory over England in the final. Following this triumph, Palmer announced her retirement from playing.
Recognition and legacy
Palmer’s impact on the sport and her contributions to women’s rugby were met with widespread acclaim. Her record as captain of the Black Ferns was exceptional, with the team losing just once during her tenure. She accumulated an impressive total of 35 Tests, placing her second only to Anna Richards, who played 49 Tests. In recognition of her achievements, Palmer was inducted into the IRB Hall of Fame in 2014, alongside five other pioneering women in the sport. Furthermore, in 2016, the Women’s Provincial Championship was renamed the Farah Palmer Cup in her honor, cementing her status as a role model for aspiring female rugby players. That same year, Palmer added another accolade to her collection when she became the first woman to win the Manawatu Standard Person of the Year award. Additionally, in 2016, she made history again by being the first woman appointed to the board of New Zealand Rugby.
Awards:
– Women’s Player of the Year by the New Zealand Rugby Union (1998)
– International Women’s Personality of the Year by the International Rugby Board (2005)
– Inductee into the IRB Hall of Fame (2014)
– Manawatu Standard Person of the Year (2016)
– Appointed to the board of New Zealand Rugby (2016)