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| Full name | Benjamin Thomas Spencer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 31 July 1992 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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.
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]
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]
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