MARK PALMER

Having a foreign player with an accent on any team in the states automatically gives credibility and an instant intimidation factor, regardless of skill set.  Having a foreign player with the knowledge, ability and the handsome looks of the Kiwi-born Mark Palmer in Lincoln helped put the squad on the map!

“MCP” as he was known, initially attended Southeast Community College as he moved to the states with family.  He grew up around the sport and played second row while in high school and later flyhalf and fullback at UNL between 1986-‘91.  He was captain of the squad his senior year and represented Nebraska in the Western RFU College All-American trials for three years between 1989-‘91.

After Lincoln, he joined the Omaha GOATS for five years and later hung up his playing boots in 1997, although caught the coaching bug for two UNL seasons during the 1998-’99 years. He has many fond memories of both UNL 7’s and 15’s including winning the Topeka 7’s over the KC Blues, but his favorite college tournament was the Jackalope Tourney in Laramie where he recalled, “great rugby and crazy fun!”  The best collegiate rugby match that he was part of was at Westerns in Lawrence, KS in the mud.  Although the squad lost to Wyoming by three points in the semi-finals, the team gave it their all.  Wyoming went on to beat Air Force in the finals by three.

His favorite post-UNL memory was during the 1995 Aspen Ruggerfest match where he and the GOATS entered the tournament as the 16 seed against the number one seed OMBAC.  They lost 15-12 after leading 9-0 at halftime.  Palmer “licked” all the points for the GOATS that game.  OMBAC would go on to win not only that tournament, but later, the men’s national title. 

Mark, his wife Amy live in Lincoln and he has worked for Olsson and Associates for 31 years as a real estate industry expert and civil engineer.  The couple has four children.