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Ben Spencer (rugby union)

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Ben Spencer
Spencer in 2021
Full nameBenjamin Thomas Spencer
Date of birth (1992-07-31) 31 July 1992 (age 33)
Place of birthStockport, England
Height1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Weight86 kg (190 lb; 13 st 8 lb)
SchoolBramhall High School
Ivybridge Community College
Rugby union career
Position(s) Scrum-half
Current team Bath
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2010–2011 Cambridge 29 (150)
2011–2020 Saracens 172 (542)
2020– Bath 116 (377)
Correct as of 25 May 2025
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2012 England U20 6 (0)
2012 England A 2 (5)
2018– England 10 (0)
Correct as of 12 July 2025

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

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Saracens

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Spencer began his youth rugby at Manchester Rugby Club 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]

Spencer was a second-half substitute for Richard Wigglesworth as Saracens defeated Racing 92 in the 2016 European Rugby Champions Cup final to become champions of Europe for the first time in their history.[3] The following season, Spencer was again a replacement as Saracens defeated Clermont in the 2017 European Rugby Champions Cup final at Murrayfield to retain their European title.[4]

Spencer was Saracens' top try scorer during the 2017–18 season[5] and scored a penalty as Saracens beat Exeter 27–10 in the 2018 Premiership final.[6]

Spencer started in the 2019 European Rugby Champions Cup final as Saracens defeated Leinster at St James' Park to become European champions for the third time in four years.[7] He then scored a try in the 2018–19 Premiership Rugby final as Saracens retained their league title.[8]

Bath

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Spencer joined Bath in a three-year deal ahead of recommencement of the 2019–20 season.[9][10] In September 2022 he was made club captain.[11]

In May 2024, following an impressive season in which Spencer led Bath to their first Premiership final in almost a decade, which they lost against Northampton Saints,[12] he was named in the Premiership Team of the Season for the 2023–24 campaign.[13]

Spencer scored a try in the 2024–25 EPCR Challenge Cup final as Bath defeated Lyon at the Millennium Stadium to win their first European trophy for seventeen years.[14] The following month he started in the 2025 Premiership final which saw them beat Leicester Tigers to become champions of England for the first time since 1996.[15]

International career

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Spencer was a member of the England under-20 squad that finished seventh at the 2012 IRB Junior World Championship in South Africa.[16] In January 2012, Spencer scored a try on his debut for the England A side in a victory against Ireland Wolfhounds.[17][18]

Spencer was included in the senior England squad for their 2018 tour of South Africa.[19] On 9 June 2018 he made his senior England international debut, arriving from the bench as a replacement for Ben Youngs during the first test defeat against South Africa at Ellis Park Stadium.[20][21] Spencer was an unused substitute in the last test of the tour as England lost the series 2–1.[22]

Spencer was initially not selected for the 2019 Rugby World Cup however he was called up after Willi Heinz was ruled out of the tournament due to suffering an injury during the semi-final against New Zealand.[23][24] Spencer made his only appearance of the competition coming on as a substitute for Ben Youngs in the final which England lost against South Africa to finish runners up.[25]

In October 2024, having previously always played off the bench for England, Spencer was named as a starter for the first time for the 2024 Autumn Nations Series fixture against New Zealand.[26] Subsequently, in January 2025, following injuries to Alex Mitchell and Jack van Poortvliet, Spencer was recalled into the senior training squad ahead of the 2025 Six Nations although ultimately did not play in that tournament.[27]

Spencer was included in the squad for the 2025 tour of Argentina.[28] He started in the opening test win against Argentina which was his first victory at international level on his ninth cap.[29][30] Spencer also played in their next match which England won to complete a series victory.[31]

Honours

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Saracens
Bath
England

References

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  1. ^ "Ben Spencer signs for Saracens". Premiership Rugby. 31 August 2011. Retrieved 26 September 2017.
  2. ^ a b "LV= Cup final: Saracens 23-20 Exeter Chiefs". BBC Sport. 22 March 2015. Retrieved 26 September 2017.
  3. ^ a b Standley, James (14 May 2016). "Saracens beat Racing 92 to win first European Champions Cup". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 September 2017.
  4. ^ a b Standley, James (13 May 2017). "European Champions Cup: Saracens beat Clermont 28-17 to retain European title". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 September 2017.
  5. ^ https://www.saracens.com/news-article/spencer-ends-season-as-sarries-top-premiership-try-scorer [dead link]
  6. ^ a b Williams, Adam (26 May 2018). "Premiership final: Exeter Chiefs 10-27 Saracens". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  7. ^ a b Mann, Mantej (11 May 2019). "Leinster 10-20 Saracens: English side win third Champions Cup in Newcastle". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  8. ^ a b Pilnick, Brent (1 June 2019). "Premiership final: Exeter Chiefs 34-37 Saracens". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  9. ^ "Ben Spencer to join Bath Rugby on long-term deal". Bath Rugby. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  10. ^ "Ben Spencer: Bath confirm England scrum-half among three new signings". BBC Sport. 5 June 2020. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  11. ^ "Ben Spencer: Scrum-half replaces Charlie Ewels as Bath captain". BBC Sport. 6 September 2022. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  12. ^ a b Hurcom, Sophie (8 June 2024). "Northampton hold off 14-man Bath in Premiership final". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  13. ^ "Premiership Rugby Team of the Season 2023/34". Premiership Rugby. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  14. ^ a b Hurcom, Sophie (23 May 2025). "Bath overpower Lyon to win European Challenge Cup". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  15. ^ a b Hurcom, Sophie (14 June 2025). "Bath end 29-year wait for Premiership title". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  16. ^ "IRB Junior World Championship 2012, Match 27". World Rugby. 22 June 2012. Retrieved 26 September 2017.
  17. ^ "Spencer delighted with "dream" debut". ESPN Scrum. 29 January 2012. Retrieved 26 September 2017.
  18. ^ "England Saxons 23-17 Irish Wolfhounds". BBC Sport. 28 January 2012. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  19. ^ Jones, Chris (10 May 2018). "Danny Cipriani named in England squad to tour South Africa in June". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  20. ^ "Farrell to lead England in South Africa as Billy Vunipola returns". Six Nations Rugby. 7 June 2018. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
  21. ^ Standley, James (9 June 2018). "South Africa beat England 42-39 in first Test in Johannesburg". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  22. ^ Standley, James (23 June 2018). "England beat South Africa 25-10 in third Test but lose series 2-1". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  23. ^ "England call up Ben Spencer to replace Willi Heinz in World Cup final squad". BBC Sport. 27 October 2019. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  24. ^ "Rugby World Cup: England call came when Ben Spencer was 'at home feeding the kids'". BBC Sport. 31 October 2019. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
  25. ^ a b Fordyce, Tom (2 November 2019). "England 12-32 South Africa: Springboks win World Cup for record-equalling third time". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  26. ^ Henson, Mike (29 October 2024). "England's Slade and Spencer start against All Blacks". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
  27. ^ Kitson, Robert (21 January 2025). "England Six Nations injury worries grow with George out of Ireland opener". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
  28. ^ "George Ford and Jamie George to co-captain 36-man England squad on summer tour of Argentina and USA". Sky Sports. 24 June 2025. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  29. ^ Bradshaw, Joe (5 July 2025). "Argentina 12-35 England: Ford inspires England to fine win in Argentina". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  30. ^ Spink, Alex (5 July 2025). "George Ford stars on 100th cap as Ben Spencer finally breaks England duck". The Times. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  31. ^ Mann, Mantej (12 July 2025). "Van Poortvliet's late try seals England series win in Argentina". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
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