Daniel Peter Palmer

Dan Palmer, son of former New South Wales hooker Peter Palmer, grew up in the Illawarra region of NSW and went on to make a name for himself in Super Rugby as one of the toughest props in the game. Regarded as one of Australia's best scrum minds the uncompromising front-rower built a reputation around the provinces as possessing raw, unbending strength at the set-piece.

Palmer’s talent was bleedingly obvious to anyone who saw his New South Wales debut in 2008. Coming off the bench on an ugly night in Dunedin, Palmer, who was just 18 at the time, faced 125kg Highlanders giant Jamie Mackintosh. Palmer didn’t shirk the task at hand and he certainly didn't budge. Unfortunately game time proved hard to come by over the next few seasons as he competed head-to-head with Test props Benn Robinson, Sekope Kepu and Al Baxter.

As a consequence Palmer moved to the ACT Brumbies for the 2011 Super Rugby season, a decision that proved to be the turning point of his career.

Palmer established himself as one of the country's strongest tightheads and was rewarded with his sole Test cap, won against Scotland, in 2012.

Palmer left the Brumbies after the Super Rugby final in 2013 to join French club Grenoble. Aged just 26 Palmer retired from professional rugby and turned his attention to a science and psychology degree.

Highlights

2006

Selected for the Australian Schools tour of Fiji and New Zealand.

2008

Selected in the Australian squad for the inaugural IRB U20s World Championships in Wales.

2012

Palmer won his first Test cap when he was selected at tight head prop in the run-on XV for the 6-9 loss to Scotland at Newcastle.