Club Career
He has generally specialised in the position of fly-half, also known as "first five-eighth" or "number 10", although he has also played fullback (number 15) at national and international levels.
Spencer first rose to prominence when he starred alongside Christian Cullen in a Ranfurly Shield challenge in 1991, playing for the Horowhenua team against Auckland. Auckland coach Graham Henry spotted Spencer's talent and recruited him to play for the Auckland team.
He played for the Blues Super 12 team from the inception of the competition in 1996 until 2005, and has played extensively for the Auckland National Provincial Championship (NPC) side. In 1996, Spencer played for the Blues in the first ever Super 12-match, kicking off the professional era of rugby union. He went on to score 608 points for the Blues in the Super Rugby competition.
In 2005 he signed to the English club, Northampton Saints. Early in 2007, he was linked with a move away from Northampton at the end of the 2006-07 season, but soon committed his loyalty to the club. He then enjoyed a marvellous season marshalling a weakened Saints outfit back into the Premiership. He spent time at fullback early in the season, as the new Saints' coaches attempted to build up the experience in the squad. However his spark was missing closer in, and he was restored to the "10" shirt for the last half of the season. The Saints also won the EDF cup at Twickenham. A selfless inspiration all season, Spencer was rewarded with a two-year extension to his contract which he accepted despite overtures for his signature in Wellington, South Africa and France. He was strongly favoured to win the Saints "Player of the year" award for the second time.
On 30 January 2009, Carlos Spencer left Northampton Saints by mutual consent by buying out the existing term of his two-year contract, and on 3 February 2009 he signed for Gloucester on what was thought to be a 17-month contract.
It was announced on 6 January 2010 that Spencer had also signed for the Johannesburg-based Golden Lions, to play for the team in the 2010 and 2011 Super Rugby seasons. The contract offered to him was said at the time to be the highest ever in South Africa.
Read more about this topic: Carlos Spencer
Famous quotes containing the words club and/or career:
“In another year I’ll have enough money saved. Then I’m gonna go back to my hometown in Oregon and I’m gonna build a house for my mother and myself. And join the country club and take up golf. And I’ll meet the proper man with the proper position. And I’ll make a proper wife who can run a proper home and raise proper children. And I’ll be happy, because when you’re proper, you’re safe.”
—Daniel Taradash (b. 1913)
“I restore myself when I’m alone. A career is born in public—talent in privacy.”
—Marilyn Monroe (1926–1962)