Story: Gender inequalities

Women in sport: Farah Palmer

Women in sport: Farah Palmer

Ex-Black Fern rugby captain Farah Palmer is one of New Zealand's least recognisable sports champions. In her 35-test career she was on the losing side just once – a five-point loss to England in Auckland in 2001. She played for New Zealand for a decade while studying for a doctorate at the University of Otago and lecturing at Massey University.

In 2016, Palmer became the first woman elected to the board of New Zealand Rugby – a significant milestone for women in elite sports administration. Another female sports administrator, New Zealander Raelene Castle, became the first woman to lead a major male-dominated sporting code in Australia when she was appointed as chief executive of Rugby Australia in 2018.

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New Zealand Herald
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Photograph by Paul Estcourt

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How to cite this page:

Anne Else, 'Gender inequalities - Areas of discrimination', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/46878/women-in-sport-farah-palmer (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Anne Else, published 5 May 2011, reviewed & revised 20 Jun 2018