{{Short description|New Zealand rugby league footballer and coach}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox rugby league biography |name = Matthew Spence |fullname = |image = |caption = |birth_date = {{birth date and age|1976|4|7|df=yes}} |birth_place = Bay of Plenty, New Zealand |height = {{convert|191|cm|ftin|abbr=on}} |weight = {{convert|98|kg|stlb|abbr=on}} |position = {{rlp|SR}} |currentclub = |clubnumber = |club1 = Parramatta Eels |year1start = 1995 |year1end = 98 |appearances1 = 35 |tries1 = 4 |goals1 = 0 |fieldgoals1 = 0 |points1 = 16 |club2 = {{nowrap|Western Suburbs}} |year2start = 1999 |year2end = |appearances2 = 15 |tries2 = 1 |goals2 = 0 |fieldgoals2 = 0 |points2 = 4 |club3 = Auckland Warriors |year3start = 2000 |year3end = |appearances3 = 18 |tries3 = 3 |goals3 = 0 |fieldgoals3 = 0 |points3 = 12 |retired = yes |updated = 3 December 2008 |source = [http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/Matthew_Spence.html RLP] }}
'''Matthew Spence''' (born 7 April 1976) is a former professional rugby league footballer and coach. His position of preference was in the second row, although he also played as prop occasionally.
==Early years== Born in New Zealand, Matthew grew up playing for the Turangi Dambusters in the Bay of Plenty competition.<ref>[http://www.rugbyleague.co.nz/player.aspx?id=440&teamID=4 Matthew Spence] ''rugbyleague.co.nz''</ref>
Spence also played for the Junior Kiwis.<ref name="NZ_Herald_12709">{{cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=12709|title=Rugby League: Warriors recruit can't wait|author=Jessup, Peter|date=28 August 1999|work=The New Zealand Herald|accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref>
==Playing career== Spence then moved to Australia, joining the Parramatta Eels and making his first grade debut in 1995. He impressed many in his rookie season and was awarded the Eric Grothe Rookie of the Year award at Parramatta.<ref>[http://www.parraeels.com.au/supporters/honourroll.shtml Honour Roll] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081221181514/http://parraeels.com.au/supporters/honourroll.shtml |date=2008-12-21}} ''parraeels.com.au''</ref> However he needed a knee reconstruction in 1997 and this injury plagued his next two seasons at the Eels.{{fact|date=April 2022}}
He signed for the Western Suburbs Magpies in 1999 and looked to rebuild his career. However, before the season had started he failed a NRL drug test, testing positive for ecstasy.<ref>[http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_7235/is_/ai_n30719232 RL: Spence only Wests player to test positive: officials] ''AAP Sport'', 8 February 1999</ref><ref>[http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_7235/is_/ai_n30719306 RL: League still waiting for more info from ASDA] ''AAP Sport'', 9 February 1999</ref><ref>[http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-21440012.html RL: NRL awaiting full ASDA report on Spence]{{dead link|date=February 2019|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} ''AAP Sport'', 9 February 1999</ref> He was the first player to be suspended under the NRL's new drug rules and received a seven-week suspension.<ref>[http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-21458096.html RL: Drugs tribunal gives Spence seven week ban]{{dead link|date=February 2019|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} ''AAP Sport'', 17 March 1999</ref>
With the Magpies merging with Balmain for the 2000 season he was forced to move clubs again and returned home to New Zealand to play for the Auckland Warriors. He was not re-signed by the new owners in 2001 and retired. When not required by the Warriors in 2000, Spence was assigned to play for the Newtown Jets.<ref>[http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SP0003/S00018.htm Backs To The Future - by Richard Becht] ''Scoop Sport'', 16 March 2000</ref> He played for the Northcote Tigers in the 2002 Bartercard Cup.{{fact|date=April 2022}}
==Later years== In 2003 Spence was the player-coach of the new Tihoi club in the Waicoa Bay club competition.<ref>[https://archive.today/20120913033859/http://www.rleague.com/db/article.php?id=15810 Waicoa Bay Premiership 2003 Season Preview] ''rleague.com'', 11 April 2003</ref>
In 2009 and 2010 Spence was the player-coach for the Turangi Dambusters in the Bay of Plenty premier competition, his old junior club.<ref>[http://www.rotoruadailypost.co.nz/sport/news/star-spence-in-roving-dambusters-role/3901266/ Star Spence in roving Dambusters role] ''The Daily Post'', 13 July 2009</ref>
==References== {{reflist|2}}
==Sources== * {{cite book|author=Alan Whiticker & Glen Hudson|title=The Encyclopedia of Rugby League Players|year=2007 |publisher=Gary Allen Pty Ltd|location=Wetherill Park, New South Wales|isbn=978-1-877082-93-1}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Spence, Matthew}} Category:1976 births Category:Living people Category:20th-century New Zealand sportsmen Category:Junior Kiwis players Category:New Zealand rugby league coaches Category:New Zealand rugby league players Category:New Zealand Warriors players Category:Newtown Jets NSW Cup players Category:Northcote Tigers players Category:Parramatta Eels players Category:Place of birth missing (living people) Category:Rugby league players from the Bay of Plenty Region Category:Rugby league second-rows Category:Western Suburbs Magpies players