One time South Sydney premiership winner in 1914, who also won a City Cup in 1912. He also played in the 1910 premiership decider for South Sydney.
Spence was born in Scotland, he would play junior rugby union with Cleveland between 1902 and 1903 before playing with South Sydney RU from 1904. In 1907 he went over to San Francisco over the summer to try and start a rugby competition in the USA. In 1908 he had returned to Sydney. In 1910 he was one of many players who came across to rugby league. He made his first grade club and premiership debut in the 1910 Round 1 clash against Balmain at Birchgrove Oval.
Spence was a long term union prop who quickly made his mark on the new code.
Spence played 5 seasons with South Sydney between 1910 and 1914. He played 63 first grade club games for South Sydney which included 56 first grade premiership games and 3 first grade cup games for South Sydney.
Spence captained South Sydney on one occassion in first grade in the 1911 Playoff clash against Eastern Suburbs at the Sports Ground.
Spence made his representative and state debut for New South Wales in the 1910 1st Match against the touring Engish team at the Showground. Two weeks later me made his international debut for Australia in the 1910 1st Test against England at the Showground. He played 8 representative games while at South Sydney between 1910 and 1912, which included 1 international for Australia and New South Wales on 4 occasions. He captained New South Wales in 1 match in the 1912 2nd interstate clash against Queensland at the Showground.
Spence played his final first grade premiership game in the 1914 Round 14 clash against Annandale at the Showground. The following week he played his final first grade club and cup game in the 1914 Round 1 City Cup clash against Balmain at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Representative Qualification
NSW City
Date of Birth
Riccarton, Scotland - 6th December 1882 (Died - 1948)
Previous Clubs First Grade
M T G FG Pt
Cleveland RU (1902-03)
South Sydney RU (1904-09)
Barbarians RU (1907-08) (San Francisco USA)
Previous Rep Honours M T G FG Pt
Metropolis II RU (1906)
Playing Career at South Sydney (1910-14)
South Sydney First Grade Debut
1910 Apr 30 Rd01 Brch v Balmain (27y 145d)
First Grade
Premiership : City Cup : Tour
M S R T G/A FG Pts : M S R T G/A FG Pts : M S R T G/A FG Pts
1910 11 11 - 4 1 - 14
1911 13 13 - 3 - - 9 : : - - - - - - -
1912 12 12 - 3 - - 9 : 2 2 - - - - -
1913 8 8 - - 1 - 2 : - - - - - - -
1914 12 12 - - - - - : 1 1 - - - - - : 4 4 - - - - -
TOTAL 56 56 - 10 2 - 34 : 3 3 - - - - - : 4 4 - - - - -
SS Cup 3 3 - - - - -
SS FG 63 63 - 10 2 - 34
Lower Grades
Second Grade : (2G)Sports Ground Cup : Third Grade :
Year M S R T G/A FG Pts : M S R T G/A FG Pts : M S R T G/A FG Pts :
1910 - - - - - - - : : - - - - - - -
1911 - - - - - - - : : - - - - - - -
1912 - - - - - - - : - - - - - - - : - - - - - - -
1913 - - - - - - - : - - - - - - - : - - - - - - -
1914 - - - - - - - : - - - - - - - : - - - - - - -
TOTAL - - - - - - - : - - - - - - - : - - - - - - -
South Sydney Senior(FG/RG/3G) Grade Career
Premiership : Cup : All Matches
M S R T G/A FG Pts : M S R T G/A FG Pts : M S R T G/A FG Pts
CAREER 56 56 - 10 2 - 34 : 3 3 - - - - - : 63 63 - 10 2 - 34
Captaincy Record at South Sydney
South Sydney First Grade Captaincy Debut
1911 Sep 2 PlyOf SSG v Eastern Suburbs (28y)
First Grade
Year Premiership( W- D-L %)
1911 1( 0- 0-1 0%) :
TOTAL 1( 0- 0-1 0%) :
SS FG 1( 0- 0-1 0%)
Suspension Record at South Sydney
Year Grade v Wk CHARGE never
Representative Honours at South Sydney
Domestic CvC / Interstate : Tourists : Other
M S R T G/A FG Pts : M S R T G/A FG Pts : M S R T G/A FG Pts
New South Wales 1910-12 2 1 (1) - - - - : 2 2 - 2 - - 6 :
Sydney Metropolis 1911-12 1 1 - - - - - : : 2 2 - - - - -
TOTAL 7 6 (1) 2 - - 6
International Internationals : Other
M S R T G/A FG Pts : M S R T G/A FG Pts
Australia 1910 1 1 - - - - - :
TOTAL 1 1 - - - - -
ALL REPS 8 7 (1) 2 - - 6
Captaincy CvC/Interstate/Internationals : Tourists : Other
M( W- D-L %) : M( W- D-L %) : M( W- D-L %)
New South Wales 1912 1( 1- 0-0 100%) :
TOTAL 1( 1- 0-0 100%)
Year Pos Team Versus Match T G/A FG
1910 Fwd New South Wales v England 1st Match 1 - -
1910 Fwd New South Wales v England 2nd Match 1 - -
1910 Fwd Australia v England 1st Test - - -
1910 Res Australasia v England 1st Test (Selected but DNP)
1910 Fwd Australasia v England 2nd Test (Selected but DNP)
1911 Res New South Wales v Queensland 1st Match - - -
1911 Fwd Sydney Metropolis v Newcastle 1st Match - - -
1912 Fwd New South Wales v Queensland 2nd Match - - - (c) W
1912 Fwd Sydney Metropolis v NSW Cntrl Western - - -
1912 Fwd Sydney Metropolis v NSW Country 2nd Match - - -
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