Ben Spencer (rugby union)

Ben Spencer

Full name	Benjamin Thomas Spencer
Date of birth	(1992-07-31) 31 July 1992 (age 32)
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
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 106 (362) Correct as of 5 January 2025 International career Years Team Apps (Points) 2012 England U20 6 (0) 2012 England Saxons 2 (5) 2019– England 8 (0) Correct as of 9 November 2024

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

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

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]

In January 2025, following injuries to Alex Mitchell and Jack van Poortvliet, he was called into the senior training squad for the 2025 Six Nations.[16]

Honours

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

1. "Ben Spencer signs for Saracens". Premiership Rugby. 31 August 2011. Retrieved 26 September 2017.
2. "LV= Cup final: Saracens 23-20 Exeter Chiefs". BBC Sport. 22 March 2015. Retrieved 26 September 2017.
3. "Saracens beat Racing 92 to win first European Champions Cup". BBC Sport. 14 May 2016. Retrieved 26 September 2017.
4. "European Champions Cup: Saracens beat Clermont 28-17 to retain European title". BBC Sport. 13 May 2017. Retrieved 26 September 2017.
5. https://www.saracens.com/news-article/spencer-ends-season-as-sarries-top-premiership-try-scorer ^[dead link‍]
6. "Premiership final: Exeter Chiefs 10-27 Saracens". BBC. 26 May 2018. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
7. "Premiership final: Exeter Chiefs 34-37 Saracens". BBC. 1 June 2019. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
8. "Leinster 10-20 Saracens: English side win third Champions Cup in Newcastle". BBC. 11 May 2019. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
9. "Ben Spencer to join Bath Rugby on long-term deal". Bath Rugby. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
10. "Premiership Rugby Team of the Season 2023/34". Premiership Rugby. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
11. "Ten-try Bath thrash 14-man Saracens for record win". BBC Sport. Retrieved 28 December 2024.
12. "IRB Junior World Championship 2012, Match 27". World Rugby. 22 June 2012. Retrieved 26 September 2017.
13. "Spencer delighted with "dream" debut". ESPN Scrum. 29 January 2012. Retrieved 26 September 2017.
14. "England call up Ben Spencer to replace Willi Heinz in World Cup final squad". BBC. 27 October 2019. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
15. Henson, Mike. "England's Slade and Spencer start against All Blacks". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
16. "England Six Nations injury worries grow with George out of Ireland opener". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 January 2025. {{cite web}}: |first1= missing |last1= (help)

External links

• 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