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Nevin Spence

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Nevin Spence
Born(1990-04-26)26 April 1990
Annahilt, Northern Ireland, UK
Died15 September 2012(2012-09-15) (aged 22)
Hillsborough, Northern Ireland, UK
Height1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight95 kg (14 st 13 lb)
SchoolWallace High School, Lisburn
Rugby union career
Position(s) Centre, Wing
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
-2012 Ballynahinch
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2010–12 Ulster 42 (25)
Correct as of 16 September 2012
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2008–10 Ireland u20 11 (20)
2011–12 Wolfhounds 3 (0)
Correct as of 16 September 2012

Nevin John Spence (26 April 1990 – 15 September 2012) was a Northern Irish rugby union player who represented Ulster in the Pro12. A centre who could also play on the wing, he came through the Ulster Rugby Academy and played his club rugby for Ballynahinch. He was also a capable footballer and appeared for Northern Ireland at under‑16 level.

Early life

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Nevin John Spence[1] was born on 26 April 1990 in Annahilt, Northern Ireland,[2] to Noel and Essie Spence. He had a brother, Graham, and two sisters, Emma and Laura.[3] He was educated at Dromore High School, where he was introduced to rugby, and later at Wallace High School.[4]

Club career

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Spence rose to prominence at Ballynahinch RFC during the successful 2009-10 season, in which the club won the Ulster Senior League Cup, AIL Division 2, and the All-Ireland Cup. He was also a member of the Ulster Rugby Academy.

Spence made his first professional appearance against the Ospreys in April 2010. In a little more than two seasons with Ulster he made 42 appearances, despite a number of shoulder injuries, and scored five tries.[5]

International career

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Spence made 11 appearances for the Ireland national under-20 team, scoring four tries, and played twice at the IRB Junior World Championships.[6] After 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.[7] 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 match at Gloucester's Kingsholm Stadium.[8]

Death

[edit]

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, aged 22, after they were overcome by fumes in a slurry tank. Spence and his father Noel were pronounced dead at the scene, while Graham was declared dead later in hospital. Spence's sister Emma also attempted to help and was overcome by fumes; she was treated in hospital and survived.[9][10][11]

Their joint funeral was held at Ballynahinch Baptist Church, followed by their burial at Inch Cemetery on 19 September.[12] A minute's silence was observed at many rugby games in Britain and Ireland the following week,[13] and a memorial service was held at Ravenhill Stadium, the home ground of Ulster Rugby, on 23 September.[14]

Inquest

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The inquest found that the accident began when their collie dog fell into a slurry tank. Graham entered the tank to look for the dog and was overcome by fumes as he climbed the ladder to get out. Spence then climbed down after seeing him collapse and was also overcome, followed by their father Noel, who attempted to assist both men. Noel reached Graham and began to bring him up the ladder, assisted from above by a neighbour, but he lost consciousness during the attempt and the neighbour could not hold Graham without his support. Emma twice entered the tank during rescue attempts. Neighbours helped her lift her father Noel out, and she attempted resuscitation. She then went back and tried to lift her brother Graham out but was overcome by fumes as she climbed the ladder. Both were subsequently taken out of the tank by rescuers. A firefighter later recovered Spence and the dog from the bottom of the tank.[15] The state pathologist said the concentration of hydrogen sulphide and other gases in the tank was sufficient to render the three men unconscious, and that they died after breathing in slurry when they fell into the tank.[16]

Legacy

[edit]

In August 2015, the Nevin Spence Centre opened at Ravenhill stadium.[17][18] In April 2023, Ulster Rugby unveiled the Nevin Spence Memorial Stand.[19]

References

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  1. ↑ "Death Notice for Nevin Spence". PassedAway.com. Retrieved 15 September 2026.
  2. ↑ "Tributes pour in for Ulster rugby player Nevin Spence after death in farming accident in Down". RTE.ie. 17 September 2012. Retrieved 15 September 2026.
  3. ↑ "Slurry Deaths: Funeral For Rugby Star And Family". Sky News. 19 September 2012. Retrieved 15 September 2026.
  4. ↑ Thornley, Gerry. "Death of Nevin Spence is a huge loss". The Irish Times.
  5. ↑ Nevin Spence at ItsRugby.fr (in French)
  6. ↑ "Squads: Ireland U20". Irish Rugby. Archived from the original on 19 November 2010. Retrieved 16 September 2012.
  7. ↑ "Eleven added to Ireland squad". pro12rugby.com. 8 February 2011. Archived from the original on 13 October 2016. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
  8. ↑ "Irish Rugby : Ireland : Results & Fixtures : Late Penalty Denies Ireland XV in Gloucester". Archived from the original on 2 July 2012. Retrieved 30 June 2012.
  9. ↑ "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.
  10. ↑ "Nevin Spence killed in County Down slurry accident". BBC News. 16 September 2012. Retrieved 16 September 2012.
  11. ↑ "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
  12. ↑ Funeral of Nevin Spence, BBC. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  13. ↑ Minute's silence for late rugby star, u.tv. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  14. ↑ Ravenhill memorial for Nevin Spence, u.tv. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  15. ↑ "Inquest into slurry pit deaths hears evidence of attempted rescues". RTE.ie. 29 January 2013. Retrieved 15 September 2026.
  16. ↑ "Spence family deaths: Inquest told it was NI's worst farming tragedy for 20 years". BBC News. 29 January 2013. Retrieved 15 September 2026.
  17. ↑ "Nevin Spence Centre opened at Ulster rugby ground". The Irish News. 27 August 2015. Retrieved 15 September 2026.
  18. ↑ "Ulster name new Ravenhill centre after Nevin Spence". BBC Sport. 15 August 2013. Retrieved 15 September 2026.
  19. ↑ "Nevin Spence Memorial Stand unveiled by Ulster Rugby". Ulster Rugby. 20 April 2023. Retrieved 15 September 2026.
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