Nevin Spence
Date of birth | 26 April 1990 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Place of birth | Annahilt, Northern Ireland, UK | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Date of death | 15 September 2012 | (aged 22)||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Place of death | Hillsborough, Northern Ireland, UK | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 95 kg (14 st 13 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
School | Wallace High School, Lisburn | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Nevin Spence (26 April 1990 – 15 September 2012) was a Northern Ireland-born 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.[1] He played his club rugby with Ballynahinch.[2] He was also a capable footballer, playing for the Northern Ireland U-16's.[3]
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. [citation needed]
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.[4] 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.[5] 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.[6]
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. It was reported that his father, brother, Nevin and his sister were overcome by fumes in a slurry tank at the family farm, possibly while trying to save a dog.[citation needed] Spence's sister was treated in hospital and survived the accident.[7][8]
They were all buried in Inch cemetery, following a joint funeral which was held at the Ballynahinch Baptist Church.[9] As a mark of respect for Spence, a minute's silence was observed at many rugby games in Britain and Ireland the following week.[10] A memorial service was held at Ravenhill Stadium, the home ground of Ulster Rugby, on Sunday 23 September 2012.[11]
References
- ^ Thornley, Gerry. "Death of Nevin Spence is a huge loss". The Irish Times.
- ^ "Nevin Spence - Rest In Peace". www.irishrugby.ie. Archived from the original on 19 September 2012.
- ^ McKinley, Stuart. "Footballing talent saw Manchester City offer Nevin Spence a trial". belfasttelegraph.
- ^ "Squads: Ireland U20". Irish Rugby. Archived from the original on 19 November 2010. Retrieved 16 September 2012.
- ^ "Eleven added to Ireland squad". pro12rugby.com. 8 February 2011. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2 July 2012. Retrieved 30 June 2012.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Ulster star Nevin Spence dies in accident on Co. Down farm". thescore.ie. 16 September 2012. Archived from the original on 17 September 2012. Retrieved 16 September 2012.
- ^ "Nevin Spence killed in County Down slurry accident". BBC News. 16 September 2012. Retrieved 16 September 2012.
- ^ Funeral of Nevin Spence, BBC. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
- ^ Minute's silence for late rugby star, u.tv. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
- ^ Ravenhill memorial for Nevin Spence, u.tv. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
External links
- Ulster Profile
- Ireland Wolfhounds Profile
- Nevin Spence at ESPNscrum
- Nevin Spence at ItsRugby.co.uk