Ben Spencer (rugby union)
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| Full name | Benjamin Thomas Spencer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 31 July 1992 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Stockport, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 86 kg (190 lb; 13 st 8 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Bramhall High School Ivybridge Community College | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Benjamin Thomas Spencer (born 31 July 1992) is an English professional rugby union player who plays as a scrum-half for Premiership Rugby club Bath and the England national team.
Club career
[edit]Spencer began his youth rugby at Manchester and went on to represent Cambridge during the 2010–11 National League 1 season. In August 2011, after impressing during a pre-season trial, Spencer signed for Saracens.[1] In March 2015, Spencer kicked a last-minute penalty as Saracens defeated Exeter Chiefs 23-20 in the final of the Anglo-Welsh Cup.[2] In May 2016, Spencer was a second-half substitute for Richard Wigglesworth as Sarries defeated Racing 92 to win the European Rugby Champions Cup for the first time.[3] The following season, Spencer was again a used replacement as Saracens defeated ASM Clermont Auvergne to retain their European title.[4] He was Saracens' top try scorer in the 2017/18 season.[5] He scored a penalty as Saracens beat Exeter 27-10 in the Premiership final in 2018, and then the following year scored a try as Saracens retained the Premiership title.[6][7] Spencer won his third European Rugby Champions Cup, this time starting the final, as Saracens defeated Leinster.[8]
He joined Bath in a three-year deal ahead of recommencement of the 2019–20 season.[9]
In May 2024, following an impressive season he was named in the Premiership Rugby Team of the Season for the 2023–24 campaign.[10]
In December 2024, he captained Bath to a 68–10 win at home against his former club. This was the worst defeat Saracens had ever suffered in the Premiership.[11]
International career
[edit]Spencer was a member of the England under-20 squad that competed at the 2012 IRB Junior World Championship in South Africa.[12] In January 2012, Spencer scored a try on his debut for the England Saxons in a victory against Ireland Wolfhounds.[13]
On 27 October 2019 he was called up to England's squad for the 2019 Rugby World Cup as an injury replacement for Willi Heinz.[14]
In October 2024, having previously always played off the bench for England, he was named as a starter for the first time for the autumn nations series fixture against New Zealand.[15]
Honours
[edit]- Saracens
- 4x Premiership Rugby: 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019
- 3x European Rugby Champions Cup: 2016, 2017, 2019
- 1x Anglo-Welsh Cup: 2015
- England
- 1x Rugby World Cup runner-up: 2019
References
[edit]- ^ "Ben Spencer signs for Saracens". Premiership Rugby. 31 August 2011. Retrieved 26 September 2017.
- ^ "LV= Cup final: Saracens 23-20 Exeter Chiefs". BBC Sport. 22 March 2015. Retrieved 26 September 2017.
- ^ "Saracens beat Racing 92 to win first European Champions Cup". BBC Sport. 14 May 2016. Retrieved 26 September 2017.
- ^ "European Champions Cup: Saracens beat Clermont 28-17 to retain European title". BBC Sport. 13 May 2017. Retrieved 26 September 2017.
- ^ https://www.saracens.com/news-article/spencer-ends-season-as-sarries-top-premiership-try-scorer [dead link]
- ^ "Premiership final: Exeter Chiefs 10-27 Saracens". BBC. 26 May 2018. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
- ^ "Premiership final: Exeter Chiefs 34-37 Saracens". BBC. 1 June 2019. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
- ^ "Leinster 10-20 Saracens: English side win third Champions Cup in Newcastle". BBC. 11 May 2019. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
- ^ "Ben Spencer to join Bath Rugby on long-term deal". Bath Rugby. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
- ^ "Premiership Rugby Team of the Season 2023/34". Premiership Rugby. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
- ^ "Ten-try Bath thrash 14-man Saracens for record win". BBC Sport. Retrieved 28 December 2024.
- ^ "IRB Junior World Championship 2012, Match 27". World Rugby. 22 June 2012. Retrieved 26 September 2017.
- ^ "Spencer delighted with "dream" debut". ESPN Scrum. 29 January 2012. Retrieved 26 September 2017.
- ^ "England call up Ben Spencer to replace Willi Heinz in World Cup final squad". BBC. 27 October 2019. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
- ^ Henson, Mike. "England's Slade and Spencer start against All Blacks". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
External links
[edit]- Ben Spencer at European Professional Club Rugby
- Ben Spencer at Premiership Rugby (archived)
- Ben Spencer at ESPNscrum
- Ben Spencer at ItsRugby.co.uk
- Saracens profile
