About the Farah Palmer Cup
The history and features of the competition and media information.
Key Information
In 2016, the Women’s Provincial Championship was renamed the Farah Palmer Cup in recognition of one of the most iconic figures in women’s rugby.
Farah Palmer is a global women’s rugby icon, having played 35 Test matches for the Black Ferns and represented Otago, Waikato and Manawatu at provincial level. In 2014, Palmer was inducted to the World Rugby Hall of Fame.
She said it was a huge privilege to have the women’s provincial championship named after her: “It’s very humbling to have the competition named in my honour. I had to have a real think about accepting it because rugby is a team sport and there are lots of women and men who have gone before me that really helped women’s rugby develop. But then I thought it is a great honour and I am happy to be acknowledged this way.”
Teams
Auckland Storm, Bay of Plenty Volcanix, Counties Manukau Heat, Canterbury, North Harbour Hibiscus, Northland Kauri, Manawatu Cyclones, Otago Spirit, Taranaki Whio, Waikato, Hawke's Bay Tuis, Tasman Mako and the Wellington Pride.
The inaugural Women's National Provincial Championship was contested in 1999, with 14 teams taking part originally.
In 2000 the number of teams increased to 18. The Championship was contested across divisions - originally a first division and regional divisions, which evolved into two divisions, and continued in this format until 2005. Throughout this time the WPC was played under different guises - the Women's National Provincial Championship, the Lion Foundation Cup, the Women's Championship, and the Women's Competition.