Ulster Rugby vs Zebre

NEVIN SPENCE ALWAYS WITH US

Monday will mark the second anniversary of the tragic death of Nevin, Noel and Graham Spence in a farming accident.

Nevin’s passing had a profound impact on the players, management and staff of Ulster Rugby. Two years on, it is still impossible to comprehend how a young player, so talented, so humble and with such a massive future in both sport and life, could be so cruelly taken from us. Following his death, a commitment was made that as long as Ulster Rugby exists, the name and the player ‘Nevin Spence’ will never be forgotten. As part of that promise, a new education and heritage centre will open next year in the new Memorial End Stand – ‘The Nevin Spence Centre’ extolling the virtues that Nevin so brilliantly displayed – namely a healthy life style, sporting success and a passion for Ulster Rugby. As we approach the second anniversary of Nevin’s death, we asked our captain, Rory Best, our Head

His was the only signature I needed to complete the shirt. Typically Nevin wondered why the shirt needed his signature but reluctantly in the end he did it. On Monday, as a squad we will come together to remember Nevin. The young rugby player and our friend who was tragically taken from us on the 15th September 2012. Remembering Nevin is a very personal thing but today represents a collective understanding that this date should be marked by the squad spending time together. To pay our respects, to share our memories and to support each other. This is the ‘fixture’ in our season that will remain constant. The date if fixed. There will be no cheering crowd, no tries, no crunching tackles and no points won or lost. The result will be the same each year. It will be the reality check in the often-mad world o f professional rugby.

NEVIN SPENCE

of Physiotherapy, Gareth Robinson and our Chaplain, Reverend Andrew Thompson, to reflect on what Nevin meant and continues to mean to them. RORY BEST

Monday will represent the time when we reflect on how Nevin touched our lives and how through his memory he continues to be an example to us all. Nevin was just a great person to know and work with. He wasn’t a noisy loud in your face type of person. He was humble honest and committed. I’m not sure if Nevin ever recognised the talent he had but anyone who saw him train or play respected him and his talent fully. Not that Nevin was shy! His occasional flirtation with treatment

It is hard to believe that it is two years since Nevin so sadly passed away. If you ask any member of the squad they will be able to tell you exactly where they were when they heard the devastating news. The two years have flown by. In many respects for us and for the players, life has had

to continue. Things have happened – we have won games and we have lost games. We have been in finals. Rugby has gone on. But just as it has seemed that the two years have gone quickly I have no doubt that it has been a long two years for the Spence family. They are always in our thoughts. For Ulster Rugby, the 15th September will always be a sad occasion. As a squad we will come together with management and staff on Monday to remember Nevin. We will reflect and there will be sadness. However, we will also enjoy sharing stories about him – things that he did on the rugby pitch, games that he played and those terrible jokes that he told. Monday will be sad day, but those memories of Nevin bring so much joy. GARETH ROBINSON The last time I saw Nevin was the night before he died. The team had just beaten Munster and he was in the changing room congratulating the boys. Just before he left I asked him to sign a shirt for me.

room stand up was far from funny yet it was. He made us laugh and he made us cringe! Both Alan and I got to spend a fair bit of time with Nevin through his career. Its safe to say he hated being injured. A limb could literally be falling off and it would be “nothing to worry about”. There wasn’t an aliment a “flam” or a “painkiller” couldn’t cure! When he was injured he worked so hard to get back. He was as determined through his rehabilitation as he was in a match. Nevin was one of life’s good guys. For such a talented young man he possessed such solid values. The underlying thing that fuelled and maintained these values was his faith. A strong deep faith that allowed him to keep his integrity in a challenging world. By recognising and understanding his faith and that of his family it has allowed us to reason he is happy and safe now. Even in his death Nevin has had influence. We miss Nevin. For a long time after his death we expected him to walk into the treatment room and everything be fine. He never did.

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ULSTER RUGBY

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