Farah Palmer
Encyclopedia
Farah Rangikoepa Palmer, ONZM
(born November 27, 1972 at Te Kuiti
, New Zealand
) is a lecturer in the Department of Management at Massey University
and a former captain of New Zealand's women's national rugby union
team, the Black Ferns
.
and raised in Piopio
. While at primary and secondary school, Palmer played netball
competitively, and also participated in athletics, swimming, tennis, and cross-country. Although she had played rugby socially before, Palmer started playing regularly after she moved to Otago University to study physical education. She joined the University club in 1992 and that year played her first match for Otago
. By 1994 she was playing regularly for Otago. Originally a prop, she changed to hooker. She first played for New Zealand on 31 August 1996 against Australia
in Sydney
—a match won 28–5. That year she was also appointed Otago captain, and became the captain of the Black Ferns in 1997 with a 67–0 win over England
.
In 1997, Palmer moved temporarily to Hamilton
and played for Waikato University club as well as presenting Waikato
. She moved back to Dunedin in 1998 where she played for Alhambra Union
. That year she captained the Black Ferns to victory in the 1998 Women's Rugby World Cup
. That year she was awarded Women's Player of the Year by the New Zealand Rugby Union. She completed her PhD
in 2000, and in 2001 moved to Palmerston North
to take up a position in sports management at Massey University. There she joined the Kia Toa
rugby club. Palmer continued to captain the Black Ferns and led them to a second World Championship in 2002
.
In 2005, she missed her first match for the Black Ferns since 1996 due to injury. That year she was awarded International Women's Personality of the Year by the International Rugby Board
(IRB). Representing Manawatu
, she helped them earn promotion to the national women's championship in 2006, and that year captained the Black Ferns in her third World Cup. After defeating England 25–17 in the final of the 2006 World Cup
Palmer announced her retirement from playing. During her time as captain the Black Ferns lost only once, and her 35 Tests for the Black Ferns is the second only to Anna Richards' 40.
New Zealand Order of Merit
The New Zealand Order of Merit is an order established in 1996 "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have rendered meritorious service to the Crown and nation or who have become distinguished by their eminence, talents, contributions or other merits."The order includes five...
(born November 27, 1972 at Te Kuiti
Te Kuiti
Te Kuiti is a small town in the south of the Waikato region of the North Island of New Zealand. It lies at the junction of State Highways 3 and 30 and on the North Island Main Trunk Railway, 80 km south of Hamilton....
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
) is a lecturer in the Department of Management at Massey University
Massey University
Massey University is one of New Zealand's largest universities with approximately 36,000 students, 20,000 of whom are extramural students.The University has campuses in Palmerston North , Wellington and Auckland . Massey offers most of its degrees extramurally within New Zealand and internationally...
and a former captain of New Zealand's women's national rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
team, the Black Ferns
Black Ferns
The Black Ferns is New Zealand's national women's rugby union team.- The name :The name comes from the use of the colour black and the silver fern as New Zealand sporting symbols...
.
Career
Palmer was born in Te KuitiTe Kuiti
Te Kuiti is a small town in the south of the Waikato region of the North Island of New Zealand. It lies at the junction of State Highways 3 and 30 and on the North Island Main Trunk Railway, 80 km south of Hamilton....
and raised in Piopio
Piopio, New Zealand
Piopio is a small town in the Waitomo District. Situated on State Highway 3 approximately 23km from Te Kuiti.-External links:* *...
. While at primary and secondary school, Palmer played netball
Netball
Netball is a ball sport played between two teams of seven players. Its development, derived from early versions of basketball, began in England in the 1890s. By 1960 international playing rules had been standardised for the game, and the International Federation of Netball and Women's Basketball ...
competitively, and also participated in athletics, swimming, tennis, and cross-country. Although she had played rugby socially before, Palmer started playing regularly after she moved to Otago University to study physical education. She joined the University club in 1992 and that year played her first match for Otago
Otago Rugby Football Union
The Otago Rugby Football Union is the official governing body of rugby union for the Otago Region of New Zealand. The union is based in the city of Dunedin, and its home ground is Forsyth Barr Stadium. The top representative team competes in the ITM Cup, New Zealand's top provincial...
. By 1994 she was playing regularly for Otago. Originally a prop, she changed to hooker. She first played for New Zealand on 31 August 1996 against Australia
Australia women's national rugby union team
The Australia national women's rugby union team, also known as the Wallaroos, are the national women's rugby union team of Australia. The Wallaroos have competed at three Women's Rugby World Cups in the past; in 1998, 2002, 2006 and the current 2010 event.Australian women have been playing rugby...
in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
—a match won 28–5. That year she was also appointed Otago captain, and became the captain of the Black Ferns in 1997 with a 67–0 win over England
England women's national rugby union team
The England women's national rugby union team are a national sporting side of England, representing them at rugby union. The side first played in 1982.-History:Women’s Rugby was first played seriously in Great Britain in the late 1970s...
.
In 1997, Palmer moved temporarily to Hamilton
Hamilton, New Zealand
Hamilton is the centre of New Zealand's fourth largest urban area, and Hamilton City is the country's fourth largest territorial authority. Hamilton is in the Waikato Region of the North Island, approximately south of Auckland...
and played for Waikato University club as well as presenting Waikato
Waikato Rugby Union
The Waikato Rugby Union is the official governing body of rugby union in the Waikato area in the North Island of New Zealand. Its senior representative team competes in the ITM Cup , and won the inaugural Air New Zealand Cup in 2006.Waikato Rugby Union was founded in 1921...
. She moved back to Dunedin in 1998 where she played for Alhambra Union
Alhambra Union Rugby Football Club
Alhambra Union Rugby Football Club is a rugby football club based in Dunedin, New Zealand.-Origins:The Alhambra Union Rugby Football Club as we know it today was formed at the end of the 1986 season and first took the paddock in 1987...
. That year she captained the Black Ferns to victory in the 1998 Women's Rugby World Cup
1998 Women's Rugby World Cup
The 1998 Women's Rugby World Cup was the first world cup fully sanctioned by the International Rugby Board and the third world cup in history. The tournament took place in Amsterdam, in the Netherlands and was the first women's world cup held outside of the United Kingdom.The tournament saw a...
. That year she was awarded Women's Player of the Year by the New Zealand Rugby Union. She completed her PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in 2000, and in 2001 moved to Palmerston North
Palmerston North
Palmerston North is the main city of the Manawatu-Wanganui region of the North Island of New Zealand. It is an inland city with a population of and is the country's seventh largest city and eighth largest urban area. Palmerston North is located in the eastern Manawatu Plains near the north bank...
to take up a position in sports management at Massey University. There she joined the Kia Toa
Kia Toa
Kia Toa RFC is a constituent club in the Manawatu province for rugby in New Zealand. It is based in the suburb of Awapuni, Palmerston North, and is one of the oldest clubs in Manawatu.Kia Toa is a Māori term, which can be translated as "Be Brave"....
rugby club. Palmer continued to captain the Black Ferns and led them to a second World Championship in 2002
2002 Women's Rugby World Cup
The 2002 Women's Rugby World Cup was the second World Cup fully sanctioned by the sports governing body the International Rugby Board . The tournament was held in Barcelona, Spain...
.
In 2005, she missed her first match for the Black Ferns since 1996 due to injury. That year she was awarded International Women's Personality of the Year by the International Rugby Board
International Rugby Board
The International Rugby Board is the governing body for the sport of rugby union. It was founded in 1886 as the International Rugby Football Board by the unions of Scotland, Wales and Ireland. England refused to join until 1890. The International Rugby Football Board changed its name to the...
(IRB). Representing Manawatu
Manawatu Rugby Union
Manawatu Rugby Union is the governing body of the sport of Rugby union in the Manawatu rugby province. The Union is based in the city of Palmerston North but has a catchment area from nearby towns in the province, including Feilding, Rongotea, Linton, Bulls, Pahiatua, Dannevirke and...
, she helped them earn promotion to the national women's championship in 2006, and that year captained the Black Ferns in her third World Cup. After defeating England 25–17 in the final of the 2006 World Cup
2006 Women's Rugby World Cup
The 2006 Women's Rugby World Cup took place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The tournament began on 31 August and ended on 17 September 2006. The 2006 tournament was the third World Cup approved by the IRB, the previous two being held 2002 in Spain and in the Netherlands, in 1998...
Palmer announced her retirement from playing. During her time as captain the Black Ferns lost only once, and her 35 Tests for the Black Ferns is the second only to Anna Richards' 40.