Dubai: Tributes have poured in for Neil Palmer, chairman of the Arabian Knights Rugby Club, who died of a suspected heart attack aged 47, over the weekend.
Palmer, who sat on the UAE Rugby Federation’s (UAE RF) strategic advisory committee, had been influential in the development of Emirati rugby players, after the Arabian Knights became the first UAE club to supplement Emirati membership fees in a bid to introduce more locals to the game. He is survived by wife Louise, and sons Max and Roman.
The UAE RF tweeted: “We share our grief in this of bereavement with deepest sympathy and condolence for the loss of Neil Palmer.”
Qais Al Dhalai, chairman of the UAE RF, tweeted: “My thoughts and prayers to the Palmer family and UAE rugby fraternity for the loss of Neil Palmer, one of the UAE’s best rugby club chairmen.
“Neil Palmer was a legend who left a great legacy behind and initiated the Arabian Knights from scratch to all successes, he was also a massive supporter of Emirati rugby.”
Former dual code Samoan international Apollo Perelini added: “Our prayers to Louise, Max and Roman. The loss of Neil Palmer is big loss for Dubai rugby. Neil wore his heart on his sleeve and loved rugby. RIP my friend.”
