# Nevin Spence > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Nevin_Spence > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Nevin_Spence.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nevin_Spence > Source revision: 1342031995 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{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](/source/Annahilt), [Northern Ireland](/source/Northern_Ireland), UK | death_date = {{Death date and age|df=y|2012|9|15|1990|4|26}} | death_place = [Hillsborough](/source/Hillsborough%2C_County_Down), Northern Ireland, UK | height = {{height|m=1.83}} | weight = {{convert|95|kg|stlb|abbr=on}} | position = [Centre](/source/Centre_(rugby_union)), [Wing](/source/Wing_(rugby_union)) | amatyears1 = -2012 | amatteam1 = [Ballynahinch](/source/Ballynahinch_RFC) | ru_amupdate = | years1 = 2010–12 | clubs1 = [Ulster](/source/Ulster_Rugby) | apps1 = 42 | points1 = 25 | ru_clubupdate = 16 September 2012 | repteam1 = [Ireland u20](/source/Ireland_national_under-20_rugby_union_team) | repteam2 = [Wolfhounds](/source/Ireland_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](/source/Wallace_High_School%2C_Lisburn) }} '''Nevin Spence''' (26 April 1990{{spaced ndash}}15 September 2012) was a Northern Irish [rugby union](/source/rugby_union) player for [Ulster](/source/Ulster_Rugby) in the [Pro12](/source/Pro14). He played as a [centre](/source/Centre_(rugby_union)), but could also play [wing](/source/Wing_(rugby_union)). He was educated firstly at Dromore High School, where he was introduced to rugby, and then at [Wallace High School](/source/Wallace_High_School%2C_Lisburn).{{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](/source/Ballynahinch_RFC).{{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](/source/Association_football), playing for the [Northern Ireland](/source/Northern_Ireland_national_football_team) 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](/source/Ulster_Senior_League_(rugby_union)), Cup, [AIL Division](/source/AIL_Division_One) 2 and All-Ireland Cup all in a single season. Nevin was also a member of the [Ulster Rugby](/source/Ulster_Rugby) Academy. Spence first tasted professional rugby against the [Ospreys](/source/Ospreys_(rugby_union)) 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](/source/Ireland_national_under-20_rugby_union_team), scoring four tries, and played twice at the [IRB Junior World Championship](/source/IRB_Junior_World_Championship)s.{{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](/source/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|archive-date=13 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161013220810/http://www.pro12rugby.com/2011/02/08/eleven-added-to-ireland-squad/|url-status=dead}} His talent was recognised by his fellow professionals in 2011 when he was named Young Player of the Year at the [IRUPA](/source/Irish_Rugby_Union_Players_Association) Players' Awards. In May 2012 he played for [Ireland](/source/Ireland_rugby_union_team) against the Barbarians in a non-capped game played at [Gloucester's](/source/Gloucester_Rugby) [Kingsholm Stadium](/source/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](/source/Hillsborough%2C_County_Down) on 15 September 2012, where they were overcome by fumes in a [slurry tank](/source/slurry_pit). 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](/source/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:1990 births Category:2012 deaths Category:Accidental deaths in Northern Ireland Category:Baptists from Northern Ireland Category:Rugby union centres Category:Rugby union wings Category:People educated at Wallace High School, Lisburn Category:Ulster Rugby players Category:21st-century Baptists Category:21st-century Irish people Category:Rugby union players from County Down Category:Irish rugby union players --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Nevin Spence](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nevin_Spence) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nevin_Spence?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.