New Zealand Rugby Board add three-time World Cup winner to World Rugby Council

The New Zealand Rugby (NZR) Board have confirmed that Professor Dame Farah Palmer will be its third representative on the World Rugby Council.

Dame Farah enjoyed a storied playing career and captained the Black Ferns to their first three Rugby World Cup titles between 1998 and 2006. Across her 30 Tests with the captains armband she experienced defeat only once.

In 2014 Dame Farah was jointly named one of the first New Zealand women to be inducted to the World Rugby Hall of Fame alongside Anna Richards.

Two years later she became the first female to be elected to the NZR Board, a position she held until 2024, in 2021 she was appointed deputy chair of NZR and was a member of the New Zealand Maori Rugby Board for 17 years.

Such has been the influence of Dame Farah on women’s rugby in New Zealand, the National Provincial Championship was renamed the Farah Palmer Cup in 2016. She is even credited for New Zealand securing the 2021 Rugby World Cup hosting rights.

For so long the gold standard of women’s rugby in her home country, Dame Farah will now bring her years of administrative experience to the World Rugby Council.

NZR Chair David Kirk said: “Dame Farah’s contribution to rugby in New Zealand and internationally has been exceptional, both on and off the field. She combines integrity and leadership and will be a strong advocate for the growth of the game worldwide.”

Dame Farah will represent NZR on the World Rugby Council alongside NZR Board member Greg Barclay and Bart Campbell.

The 52-year-old has replaced Dr. Deb Robinson on the World Rugby Council who served on the council since 2018.

Kirk said: “On behalf of the board I would like to thank Dr. Deb Robinson for her excellent contribution to the work of the World Rugby Council, in particular as Chair of the Anti-Doping Advisory Committee.”