Marcelle Parkes

An accomplished softballer, who was a part of the Junior White Sox, and talented netballer, named in the New Zealand Secondary Schools team in 2015, Marcelle Parkes took up the opportunity to play sevens for the Marist St Pat’s club to keep fit in the netball off-season.

By 2018 she was in the Wellington Sevens team to play at the national tournament, where she caught the eyes of selectors and was named in the Black Ferns Development Sevens team. Her versatility saw her selected in the Black Ferns in 2018. She made her Test debut against France on the Northern Tour in 2018.

Since her Black Ferns debut, the powerhouse number eight has been a mainstay of the Canterbury and Matatū forward packs. Under the tutelage of Whitney Hansen, Parkes made the shift to the front row in 2023 and has quickly adapted to the new role. Impressing for Canterbury during their Bunnings Warehouse Farah Palmer Cup campaign, Parkes earnt selection in the Black Ferns XV and following a competitive Super Rugby in the front row, Parkes will now be hoping to make her return to the Black Ferns in the new role.