Ben Spencer (rugby union)
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 careerSpencer 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 Saracens defeated Racing 92 to win the European Rugby Champions Cup for the first time.[3] The following season, Spencer was again a replacement as Saracens defeated Clermont to retain their European title.[4] Spencer 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] Spencer joined Bath in a three-year deal ahead of recommencement of the 2019–20 season.[9] In May 2024, following an impressive season in which he led Bath to their first Premiership final in almost a decade, he was named in the Premiership Team of the Season for the 2023–24 campaign.[10] International careerSpencer was a member of the England under-20 squad that competed at the 2012 IRB Junior World Championship in South Africa.[11] In January 2012, Spencer scored a try on his debut for the England Saxons in a victory against Ireland Wolfhounds.[12] On 9 June 2018, Spencer made his senior international debut for England against South Africa, arriving from the bench during the first match of their 2018 summer test series.[13] On 27 October 2019, Spencer was called up to England's squad for the 2019 Rugby World Cup, as an injury replacement for Willi Heinz.[14] He then made his first World Cup appearance as a substitute in the 2019 final against South Africa.[15] 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.[16] Subsequently, in January 2025, following injuries to Alex Mitchell and Jack van Poortvliet, he was recalled into the senior training squad ahead of the 2025 Six Nations.[17] Honours
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