Top 10 Players: Farah Palmer
Who are the best women's players to have ever played the game? We pick our Top 10 since the test game began in 1982 and today we pick New Zealand legend Farah Palmer, a three-time World Cup winner and former Black Ferns captain.
Published by Alison Donnelly, October 30th, 2015
3 minute read
Farah PalmerMajor teams:Waikato, OtagoPosition: HookerCountry:New ZealandTest span:1996-2006
Unquestionably one of the most respected leaders in women’s rugby history, Palmer led the Black Ferns to total dominance following herdebut in 1996, captaining the team to World Cup triumphs in 1998 and2002 and lifting the title again in 2006. In a career filled with accolades, she also led the team toCanada Cup titles in 1996, 2000 and 2005 and a Churchill Cup win in2004.
A totally uncompromising hooker, Palmer was a feared front rower andher experience and leadership inspired her team to win after win asshe led from the front with an excellent set-piece ability andoutstanding skills.
With a background steeped in sport, Palmer grew up playing everythingshe could try her hand at until finding rugby at Otago University.Originally a prop, she switched to hooker in 1994 and became captainof the Black Ferns in 1997 - celebrating with a 67–0 win over Englandat Burnham Army Camp in Christchurch, followed by a win againstAustralia at Carisbrook in Dunedin.
After taking a year out of rugby to compete as a bodybuilder, shere-joined the Black Ferns side in 2003 while at the same time makinggood success of her club career, helping Manawatu win promotion to theNPC
During her time as captain, the Black Ferns lost only once and she wasnamed in World Rugby’s Hall of Fame alongside teammate Anna Richards,again no real surprise given the role she played in taking New Zealandto the top.
As a vocal ambassador for women’s sport and Maori women these days,the highly regarded ex Black Fern captain is now a well-known figurein New Zealand with often outspoken views on the support givento the women’s game.
Now a senior lecturer at Massey University, she is also a former IRB international Women’s Personality of the year and in 2007 she was madean Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services towomen’s rugby and sport
Top 10 Women's Players Ever: List so far
Nathalie AmielGill BurnsDonna Kennedy
The top ten best women's players ever originally appeared in Rugby: The Greatest Players, from the makers of Rugby World magazine and was written by Ali Donnelly. Find out who the 130 best male players are, position by position, in the bookazine - on sale in WHSmith until 19 November in the UK.