Ulster mourning starlet Spence

The world is a cruel place.

That has been said many times, in many an instance.

But in the case of 22-year-old rugby star Nevin Spence, it makes the stomach churn. You then wonder why a life so young, so gifted, so talented, so approachable and so generous, should be taken away.

While one Hillsborough tragedy was remembered last week, another family tragedy closer to home occurred near a County Down village of the same name on Saturday afternoon.

It was one that tugged at the heart strings of those involved in Irish, and Ulster rugby, in particular and the farming community in general.

The tragedy leaves a grieving wife and mother without her husband Noel and two sons, Nevin who died at the scene, and his older brother Graham who was rushed to hospital but eventually passed away. Younger sister Emma, a talented artist who on occasions could be seen at Ravenhill sketching caricatures of Ulster players, is due out of hospital later today. Another sister Lorna was not involved in the drama, but is now left to pick up the pieces.

The Spence farm is on the Drumlough Road, a short hop from the memorial gardens and former home of Irish engineer Harry Ferguson, the developer of the modern tractor. He may have been a professional rugby player, but like Ireland’s Rory Best, was only too glad to help out on the family farm.

A devoted family of deeply Christian values, the Spences regularly attended Ballynahinch Baptist Church. While Nevin admitted he was a bit of a back slider during his days at secondary school, he returned to the full Christian way of life in his late teens and was part of an ever growing close-knit community of believers among the Ulster squad.

Nevin, though, was almost lost to rugby and could have ended up playing soccer instead. While at Dromore High School, he was spotted by scouts and was part of the Northern Ireland U17 football squad. It was expected that he would progress into Irish League football. But when he received excellent GCSE grades, he moved onto Wallace High School in Lisburn to study for his A levels, and the switch to rugby became all-engrossing.

I first saw the tussled blonde-haired Nevin as a teenager while playing on the wing for Ballynahinch three seasons ago. His pace, dancing feet, crunching defence and try-scoring brilliance, helped the club to the All-Ireland League and cup honours. In the background, watching Nevin’s talent evolve, was the club’s then coaching strategist Brian McLaughlin. It was the former Ulster head coach, who was ultimately responsible for giving the exuberant youngster his first start for Ulster against the Ospreys back in 2010.

“I came across Nevin when he was playing for Wallace High School when I was head of PE at Royal Belfast Academical Institution,” said McLaughlin who late last night was still trying to get his head around the circumstances of Nevin’s death. “I immediately saw a bit of talent. When I was involved with Ballynahinch, I mentioned to the coaching staff and he came along and he proved a wonderful acquisition. He then moved to the Ulster Academy where he again impressed, and I had no option but to give him a go at the senior squad in the then Magners League,” said McLaughlin who watched Nevin play 42 times for Ulster and gain two caps for the Irish Wolfhounds.

“But Nevin was not just super rugby player, he was a super guy, bright and breezy. He was full of life and fun to be with and a delight to coach. He was really into his religion and his beliefs, but he would never force anything on you. He was just so honest, and a lovely bloke. It’s heart-breaking. I keep having flashbacks of Nevin, and one that continually recurs is that brilliant try he scored in the right-hand corner against Bath in December 2010. He ended up doing a head flip after he had dived in. It was the first image that came to mind when I woke up yesterday, and now I just can’t get it out of my head.”

* Jim Stokes is a Belfast-based sports journalist.