Nevin Spence
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{EngvarB|date=February 2020}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| name = Nevin Spence
| image =
| caption =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=y|1990|4|26}}
| birth_place = Annahilt, Northern Ireland, UK
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=y|2012|9|15|1990|4|26}}
| death_place = Hillsborough, Northern Ireland, UK
| height = {{height|m=1.83}}
| weight = {{convert|95|kg|stlb|abbr=on}}
| amatyears1 = -2012
| amatteam1 = Ballynahinch
| ru_amupdate =
| years1 = 2010–12
| clubs1 = Ulster
| apps1 = 42
| points1 = 25
| ru_clubupdate = 16 September 2012
| repteam1 = Ireland u20
| repteam2 = Wolfhounds
| repyears1 = 2008–10
| repyears2 = 2011–12
| repcaps1 = 11
| repcaps2 = 3
| reppoints1 = 20
| reppoints2 = 0
| ru_ntupdate = 16 September 2012
| school = Wallace High School, Lisburn
}}
Nevin Spence (26 April 1990{{spaced ndash}}15 September 2012) was an Irish rugby union player for Ulster in the Pro12. He played as a Centre, but could also play Wing. He was educated firstly at Dromore High School, where he was introduced to rugby, and then at Wallace High School.{{cite news |last1=Thornley |first1=Gerry |title=Death of Nevin Spence is a huge loss |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/death-of-nevin-spence-is-a-huge-loss-1.532272 |newspaper=The Irish Times |language=en}} He played his club rugby with Ballynahinch.{{cite web |title=Nevin Spence – Rest In Peace |url=http://www.irishrugby.ie/news/27145.php |website=www.irishrugby.ie |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120919022421/http://www.irishrugby.ie/news/27145.php |archivedate=2012-09-19}} He was also a capable footballer, playing for the Northern Ireland U-16's.{{cite web |last1=McKinley |first1=Stuart |title=Footballing talent saw Manchester City offer Nevin Spence a trial |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/rugby/footballing-talent-saw-manchester-city-offer-nevin-spence-a-trial-28864170.html |website=belfasttelegraph}}
Club career
Nevin rose to prominence at Ballynahinch during the hugely successful 2009/10 season. The club won the Ulster Senior League, Cup, AIL Division 2 and All-Ireland Cup all in a single season. Nevin was also a member of the Ulster Rugby Academy.
Spence first tasted professional rugby against the Ospreys in April 2010. In the little more than two seasons that he played for Ulster he made 42 appearances, despite suffering a number of shoulder injuries, and scored five tries.{{ItsRugby profile|17355}}
International career
He made 11 appearances for the Ireland national under-20 rugby union team, scoring four tries, and played twice at the IRB Junior World Championships.{{cite web |url=http://www.irishrugby.ie/squads/ireland_u20.php?player=77880&includeref=dynamic |title=Squads: Ireland U20 |publisher=Irish Rugby |accessdate=16 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101119075708/http://www.irishrugby.ie/squads/ireland_u20.php?player=77880&includeref=dynamic |archive-date=19 November 2010 |url-status=dead }} After some strong performances for Ulster and two appearances for Ireland Wolfhounds, he was called up to Ireland's senior training squad for the 2011 Six Nations Championship.{{cite news|title=Eleven added to Ireland squad |url=http://www.pro12rugby.com/2011/02/08/eleven-added-to-ireland-squad/ |accessdate=13 October 2016|publisher=pro12rugby.com|date=8 February 2011}} His talent was recognised by his fellow professionals in 2011 when he was named Young Player of the Year at the IRUPA Players' Awards. In May 2012 he played for Ireland against the Barbarians in a non-capped game played at Gloucester's Kingsholm Stadium.{{cite web |url=http://www.irishrugby.ie/rugby/26597.php |title=Irish Rugby : Ireland : Results & Fixtures : Late Penalty Denies Ireland XV in Gloucester |accessdate=30 June 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120702105228/http://www.irishrugby.ie/rugby/26597.php |archivedate=2 July 2012 }}
Death
Spence died, along with his brother Graham and father Noel, in an accident at the family farm in Hillsborough, County Down on 15 September 2012, where they were overcome by fumes in a slurry tank. Spence's sister was treated in hospital and survived the accident.{{cite web|url=http://www.thescore.ie/ulster-star-nevin-spence-dies-in-accident-on-co-down-farm-597031-Sep2012|title=Ulster star Nevin Spence dies in accident on Co. Down farm|accessdate=16 September 2012|date=16 September 2012|publisher=thescore.ie|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120917000755/http://www.thescore.ie/ulster-star-nevin-spence-dies-in-accident-on-co-down-farm-597031-Sep2012/|archivedate=17 September 2012}}{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-19614688|title=Nevin Spence killed in County Down slurry accident|publisher=BBC News|accessdate=16 September 2012|date=16 September 2012}}{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/nevin-spences-sister-gives-harrowing-evidence-of-efforts-to-save-rugby-star-and-family-who-fell-into-slurry-tank-29023865.html|title=Nevin Spence's sister gives harrowing evidence of efforts to save rugby star and family who fell into slurry tank}}, Irish Independent Retrieved 19 Sept 2020
They were buried in Inch cemetery, following a joint funeral which was held at the Ballynahinch Baptist Church.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-19636136 Funeral of Nevin Spence], BBC. Retrieved 16 March 2015. As a mark of respect for Spence, a minute's silence was observed at many rugby games in Britain and Ireland the following week.[http://www.u.tv/Sport/Minutes-silence-for-late-rugby-star/b4849cfd-987a-42e0-9b9e-19528a910828 Minute's silence for late rugby star], u.tv. Retrieved 16 March 2015. A memorial service was held at Ravenhill Stadium, the home ground of Ulster Rugby, on Sunday 23 September 2012.[http://www.u.tv/News/Ravenhill-memorial-for-Nevin-Spence/a3587e6d-c149-440a-9648-36e2f33648a0 Ravenhill memorial for Nevin Spence], u.tv. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20110717152651/http://www.ulsterrugby.com/rugby/ulster_first_team.php?player=77880&includeref=dynamic Ulster Profile]
- [http://www.irishrugby.ie/squads/ireland_wolfhounds.php?player=77880&includeref=dynamic Ireland Wolfhounds Profile]
- {{ESPNscrum|116747}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Spence, Nevin}}
Category:Accidental deaths in Northern Ireland
Category:Baptists from Northern Ireland
Category:People educated at Wallace High School, Lisburn
Category:21st-century Baptists
Category:21st-century Irish people