Leading New Zealand's bid to host the women's rugby world cup is just as nerve wracking as playing a test says Dr Farah Palmer.
NZ Rugby board member and former Black Fern Dr Farah Palmer. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
New Zealand and Australia are vying to host the 2021 tournament with a decision to be made by World Rugby in Dublin overnight.
Palmer, a former Black Fern and current New Zealand Rugby board member is one of the key presenters of the New Zealand bid and concedes she's feeling tense ahead of the meeting.
"Oh heck yes, it's like any game when you go in you've got to feel a little bit of nerves but I think when you go into something like this you've just got to bring your A-game and that's exactly what we're doing or what we're trying to do and we can only present what we think is a really excellent bid and hope that reason wins in the end."
Palmer feels the timing would be perfect for New Zealand to win the hosting rights.
"We've really gained some momentum in the last couple of years and this would be the icing on the cake and this would truly show that we are world leaders and keen to develop the game in the Oceania region, do what we can to support the Pacific Island nations and really develop it in this part of the world."
New Zealand Black Ferns captain Fiao'o Faamausili celebrates winning the 2017 Women's Rugby World Cup. Photo: © Photosport Ltd 2017 © INPHO 2017
New Zealand has won the World Cup five times, but has never hosted the tournament which in its eight tournament history has only ever been held in the northern hemisphere.
Palmer played ten years in the Black Ferns and won the World Cup three times in 1998, 2002 and 2006.
She says winning the hosting rights would be a great reward for all former players.
"For me as an ex-Black Fern it's really important and if we did win it would just be the icing on the cake for many of us who have been waiting and waiting for this opportunity and like we're won five World Cups and this is the first time we've put a bid in so it'll mean a lot for New Zealand Rugby and players who have played rugby."
Ireland hosted the 2017 tournament.